-.XBKK&'aja.mBimm. 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


\ 


JOURNAL-HISTORY 


OF    THE 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY; 


BY 

SAMUEL    H.    HURST, 

LATE   COMMANDER  OP   THE   REGIMENT. 


CHILLICOTHE,  OHIO 
1866. 


THIS  volume  has  been  prepared  at  the  request  of  the 
Officers  and  Men  of  the  Regiment  whose  history  it  attempts 
to  record.  Doubtless  it  has  many  errors  and  imperfections. 
The  history  of  a  regiment  is  so  completely  interwoven  with 
the  history  of  its  brigade,  division,  corps,  and  army,  that  a 
general  view  of  the  movements  of  all  is  necessary  to  a  just 
appreciation  of  the  part  borne  by  a  single  battalion.  The 
writer  presents  the  result  of  his  labors,  to  the  members  .and 
friends  of  the  regiment,  with  the  hope  that  it  will  be  a  val- 
uable record. 


CONTENTS. 


Organization  of  the  Regiment, £ 

Ordered  to  the   Field, 11 

Forced  Marches  on  Romney  and  Moorfield, 151 

Return  to,  and  Encampment  at,  Clarksburg, 14 

Change  of  Position  to  Weston, 15 

March  across  the  Mountains, 15 

Battle  at  McDowell, 17 

Position  at  Franklin, 20 

The  Army  of  the  Mountains, 21 

Battle  of  Cross  Keys, 24 

Return  to  Strasburg, 24 

Encampment  at  Middleton, 25 

Crossing  the  Blue  Ridge, 26 

Camp  Life  at  Sperryville, 27 

Battle  of  Cedar  Mountain, 2S 

The  Rapidan  and  the  Rappahannock, 30 

Battle  of  Freeman's  Ford,....v 31 

Artillery  Duels, 33 


vi  CONTENTS. 

Movements  of  the  two  Armies, 33 

Battle  of  "Second  Bull  Run," 35 

In  Front  of  Washington, 44 

On  the  War  Path  Again, 46 

Fairfax  and  Germantown, 47 

March  to  Falmouth, 48 

Battle  of  Fredericksburg, 48 

Encampment  at  Falmouth, 49 

"  Burnside  Stuck  in  the  Mud," •„ 50 

Move  to  Stafford  Court  House, 52 

The  Spring  Campaign, 53 

Battle  of  Chancellorsville, 55 

Back  to  the  Hills  of  Stafford, 61 

The  March  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania, 63 

The  Battle  of  Gettysburg, 66 

Return  to  Virginia, 78 

From   Manassas  Junction  to  Bridgeport,  Ala., 81 

The  Situation, 82 

Up  the  Tennessee  River, 84 

Midnight  Charge  at  Lookout  Valley, 86 

jj  ttle  of  Mission  Ridge, 91 

Campaign  of  East.  Tennessee, 98 

Veteran  Re-Enlistment, 106 

Homeward  Bound, . 1 08 

Back  to  Lookout  Valley, 110 


CONTENTS.  Vii 

Camp  at  Raccoon   Ridge, 110 

The  Army  Moves, 112 

Rocky  Faced   Ridge, 113 

Battle    of  Resacca, 116 

On  to  Cassville, 121 

Flanking  Allatoona, 1 25 

Battle  of  New  Hope  Church, 125 

Engagement  near  Lost  Mountain, 132 

Battle  Days  in  Front  of  Kenesaw, 134 

At  the  Powder  Spring  Road, 135 

Across  the  Chattahoochee, 138 

Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek, 139 

Siege  of  Atlanta, 142 

Sherman's  Tactics, 146 

Atlanta   Ours, 148 

Camping  at  Atlanta, 149 

Sherman's  Grand   March  to  the  Sea, 153 

In  Front  of  Savannah, 161 

Savannah  Surrendered, 1 64 

In  the  "Palmetto"  State, 167 

Through  the  Carolinas, ! 168 

Battle  of  Averyboro', 171 

Battle  of  Bentonville, 173 

At  Goldsboro', 177 

Advance  on  Raleigh, 178 


Viii  CONTENTS. 

The  March  to  Washington, 180 

The  Great  Review, 181 

Transfer  to  Louisville,  Ky., 182 

Mustered   Out, 182 

Military  Histories  of  Officers, 184 

Military  Histories  of  Enlisted  Men, 199 

Summary 254 


JOURNAL-HISTORY 


OF  THE 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  FOL.  INF1KTRY. 


ORGANIZATION   OF   THE   REGIMENT. 

In  September,  1861,  a  group  of  young  men  at  Chil- 
licothe,  Ohio,  discussed  the  possibility  of  raising  a  new 
regiment  of  volunteers,  under  the  first  call  of  the  Presi- 
dent for  three  hundred  thousand  men.  After  due  con- 
sideration, they  determined  to  make  the  attempt,  and 
invited  Captain  Orland  Smith,  of  the  "  Chillicothe 
Greys,"  to  accept  the  colonelcy,  and  Jacob  Hyer,  Esq., 
of  Greenfield,  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  the  regiment. 
These  gentlemen  accepted  the  positions  tendered  them, 
and  at  once  gave  themselves  to  the  work  of  recruiting 
and  organization.  A  number  of  conditional  commis- 
sions were  issued  by  the  Governor,  and,  by  the  middle 
of  October,  the  work  of  recruiting  was  fairly  begun. 
The  new  regiment  was  to  be  called  the  Seventy-third 
Ohio,  and  was  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  "Camp  Logan," 
near  Chillicothe.  Recruiting  stations  were  established 
in  Ross,  Highland,  Pickaway,  Jackson,  Pike,  Athens 
and  Washington  counties ;  and  company  encampments 
2 


10  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

were  opened  at  Hallsville,  Clarksburg  and  Massieville, 
in  Ross  county.  At  this  period  in  the  history  of  the 
war  recruiting  was  very  difficult.  The  first  outburst  of 
the  people's  patriotic  indignation  had  somewhat  sub- 
sided. The  disaster  at  Bull  Run  had  cast  a  deep  gloom 
over  the  country.  It  was,  indeed,  a  period  of  darkness 
and  discouragement.  More  than  twice  "  sixty  days  " 
had  passed,  and  the  rebellion,  instead  of  being  crushed, 
was  growing  stronger  every  day.  Our  people  were 
not  yet  aware  of  the  magnitude  of  the  work  they  had 
undertaken,  in  the  war  for  the  integrity  of  the  repub- 
lic ;  and  the  sympathy  of  England  and  France  with 
those  who  were  trying  to  break  up  our  government, 
and  the  encouragement  given  the  insurgents  by  a  very 
large  party  in  the  Northern  States,  gave  prestige  to 
the  pretended  Confederacy,  and,  to  many  minds,  in- 
sured the  ultimate  success  of  treason  and  secession. 

The  first|  reverses  of  the  war  had  taught  us  some- 
thing of  the  spirit  and  purpose  of  our  enemies  ;  and  the 
loyal  nation  paused,  in  grief,  to  weigh  the  value  of  the 
Union,  and  count  the  cost  of  its  salvation.  Love  of 
country  and  of  right  sat  umpire,  and  fixed  in  the  hearts 
of  all  true  men  the  desire — the  hope — the  determina- 
tion, that,  at  any  cost,  the  union  of  these  States  should 
be  preserved — the  nation  should  live.  It  was  this  de- 
termination that  prompted  the  men  who  now  gave 
themselves  to  the  country :  exchanging  the  pursuits 
and  associations  of  peaceful  life  for  the  dangers,  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  the  field. 

On  the  12th  day  of  November,  the  first  company  ("A" 
was  organized;  and,  on  the  16th,  came  into  camp  with 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  11 

a  full  one  hundred  men.  November  20th,  companies 
"B"  and  "F"  were  organized;  and  company  "G"  on 
the  13th  of  December.  In  the  meantime  a  number  of 
parts  of  companies  were  brought  into  camp  by  the  re- 
cruiting officers,  and  all  were  being  drilled  in  the  school 
of  the  soldier,  the  company  and  the  battalion. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  a  consolidation  of  these 
detachments  was  arranged,  by  which  the  formation  of 
ten  minimum  companies  was  completed,  and  the  regi- 
ment organized,  and  mustered  into  the  'service  of  the 
United  States.  The  work  of  drilling  and  of  preparing 
an  outfit  for  the  regiment  went  steadily  forward,  and, 
by  the  time  it  was  ordered  to  the  field,  the  discipline, 
drill,  and  apparent  efficiency  of  the  regiment  were  alike 
creditable  to  the  officers  and  the  men. 


ORDERED   TO    THE   FIELD. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1862,  having  orders  to 
report  to  Gen.  Rosecrans  (then  commanding  the  de- 
partment of  West  Virginia),  the  regiment  left  Chilli- 
cothe,  and  proceeded  (via  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati, 
and  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroads),  to  Fetterman,  a 
village  near  Grafton,  in  Western  Virginia.  Here  the 
Seventy-third  remained  in  camp  eight  days.  We  met, 
at  Fetterman,  the  Fifty-fifth,  Seventy-fifth  and  Eighty- 
second  Ohio  regiments,  like  our  own,  just  entering  the 
field. 


12  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

February  3d,  the  Seventy-third  and  Fifty-fifth  Ohio 
were  moved  by  rail  to  New  Creek,  and  there  reported 
to  Gen.  Lander  for  duty.  We  found,  at  New  Creek, 
three  regiments  of  Virginia  infantry,  a  battery  and  a 
detachment  of  cavalry. 


FORCED  MARCHES  ON  ROMNEY  AND  MOORFIELD. 

Scarcely  had  the  regiment  occupied  its  new  camp  on 
the  bank  of  the  North  Branch  of  the  Potomac,  when 
all  the  men  able  for  such  duty  were  ordered  out  on  an 
expedition  to  Romney,  thirty  miles  distant.  The  route 
lay  over  a  mountainous  country,  now  almost  impassable 
with  snow,  ice  and  mud.  It  was  a  rough  introduction 
to  campaign  life,  but  our  eager  men  entered  upon  it 
with  hearty  enthusiasm.  The  expedition  was  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Dunning,  of  the  Fifth  Ohio,  who  was 
also  commandant  of  the  post  at  New  Creek.  The  en- 
emy retired  from  Romney  before  Col.  Dunning' s  forces 
arrived;  and,  as  the  river  was  much  swollen,  the  expe- 
dition did  not  cross,  but  returned,  on  the  third  day,  to 
camp  at  New  Creek. 

Another  expedition  was  soon  planned;  and,  on  the 
12th  of  February,  a  force  of  eighteen  hundred  men,  in- 
cluding the  Seventy-third  Ohio,  was  sent  against  Moor- 
field,  still  further  up  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac 
than  Romney. 

It  was^  near  midnight  of  the  13th,  when  the  head  of 
our  column  reached  the  river  at  the  ferry,  four  miles 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       13 

below  Moorfield,  and  found  that  the  ferry-boat  had  been 
destroyed.  The  column  halted,  and  the  men  began  to 
build  fires  along  the  road,  the  night  being  quite  cold. 
Suddenly  a  volley  of  rebel  musketry,  scarcely  three 
hundred  yards  to  our  left  front,  startled  the  entire 
column.  The  balls  came  whistling  sharply  among  us, 
wounding  one  or  two  men  of  our  regiment.  The  de- 
tachment of  cavalry  in  advance  came  tearing  back 
through  the  column,  almost  producing  a  panic ;  but  the 
infantry  stood  to  arms,  and,  in  a  minute,  our  skirmish- 
ers were  replying  to  the  enemy's  fire,  which  was 
promptly  silenced.  Here  was  the  first  gun  fired  by  the 
Seventy-third  Ohio,  and  the  first  man  of  the  regiment 
wounded. 

The  column  was  now  moved  to  the  right ;  and,  just 
at  daylight,  approached  the  river  again,  opposite  and  in 
sight  of  Moorfield.  Col.  Harness  held  the  town  with  a 
force  of  militia,  numbering  from  five  to  eight  hundred. 
We  could  plainly  see  them  drawn  up  in  line,  as  if  ready 
to  give  us  battle.  Two  or  three  shots  from  one  of 
Capt.  Winan's  brass  guns  conveyed  the  compliments 
of  the  visitors,  and  Col.  Dunning  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce, 
with  a  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  place.  Col. 
Harness  replied  that  the  town  would  be  defended  to  the 
last.  Capt.  Winan  sent  over  a  few  more  shells,  and 
the  infantry  was  ordered  forward.  The  river  was  much 
swollen,  and  was  barely  fordable  by  horsemen.  It 
flowed  through  several  channels  at  this  point,  and  the 
first  of  these,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  town,  was 
crossed  by  carrying  the  infantrymen  over  on  the  cav- 
alry horses.  As  soon  as  the  head  of  our  column  had 


14  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

crossed  this  stream,  the  rebels  opened  fire  from  the 
nearer  houses  of  the  town,  where  they  had  posted  a 
hundred  men  to  dispute  our  crossing.  But  when  two 
or  three  batallions  had  opened  a  brisk  fire  in  reply, 
the  chivalry  fled  from  the  town.  Our  forces  crossed 
the  other  streams,  and  occupied  Moorfield,  while  Col. 
Harness  and  his  militia  beat  a  hasty  retreat  toward 
Winchester. 

Col.  Dunning  did  not  wish  to  hold  the  town,  and  his 
forces  accordingly  recrossed  the  river,  and  started  back 
to  New  Creek  ;  and,  on  the  16th,  reached  camp  again. 

These  forced  marches  to  Romney  and  Moorfield,  over 
a  mountainous  country,  and  through  the  snow  and  mud 
of  mid-winter,  were  severe  experiences  for  new  troops, 
and  a  great  many  of  the  men  fell  sick. 


RETURN  TO  AND  ENCAMPMENT  AT  CLARKSBURG. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  our  regiment  was  ordere 
back  again  to  the  command  of  Gen.  Rosecrans,  and 
took  the  cars  for  Clarksburg,  Va.,  where  we  arrived  on 
the  19th.  The  regiment  remained  at  Clarksburg  for  a 
month.  The  health  of  the  men  grew  rapidly  worse. 
Our  forced  marches  and  exposures  told  with  wonderful 
effect,  so  that,  in  two  weeks,  three  hundred  men.  of  the 
regiment  were  sick  in  hospital,  and  one  or  more  died 
almost  every  day. 

There  was  no  organized  rebel  force  in  this  section  of 
the  State,  but  the  citizens  seemed  about  equally  divided 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  15 

in  their  sympathies  for  the  Union  and  Rebel  cause. 
Those  having  aristocratic  pretentions  were  usually 
against  the  government,  but  were  so  discreet  that  no 
disturbances  occurred  during  our  stay. 


CHANGE  OF  POSITION  TO  WESTON. 

About  the  29th  of  March,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio 
moved  from  Clarksburg  to  Weston,  a  pleasant  town, 
twenty-five  miles  up  the  Elk  river.  Here  we  went  into 
camp  again,  and  remained  three  weeks,  when  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  across  the  mountains  to  join  Gen. 
Milroy.  A  number  of  officers  and  men  were  left  here, 
also,  in  hospital;  and  here  died,  on  the  15th  of  April, 
our  first  officer — Adjutant  Frederick  C.  Smith — leav- 
ing behind  him  the  record  of  a  generous  and  earnest 
manhood. 


MARCH  ACROSS  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

The  movement  of  the  regiment,  with  all  its  baggage 
and  supplies,  was,  at  this  time  and  season  of  the  year, 
no  small  undertaking.  Having  a  full  outfit  of  camp  and 
garrison  equipage,  and  enough  personal  baggage  to 
have  organized  a  sanitary  commission,  it  required  no 
less  than  thirty-seven  wagons  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
regiments — the  men,  in  the  meantime,  carrying  their 
own  heavily-laden  knapsacks.  The  regiment  marched 


16  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

by  way  of  Buchanan  and  Beverly,  Huttonsville  and 
Cheat  Mountain — 120  miles — to  Monterey  :  crossing, 
in  its  route,  Buchanan,  Rich,  Greenbrier,  Cheat  and 
Allegheny  mountains ;  delayed,  however,  by  floods  of 
water  and  roads  almost  impassable. 

A  few  days  after  our  arrival  at  Monterey,  a  large 
foraging  party  from  Gen.  Milroy's  command  was  sur- 
prised, by  rebel  cavalry,  near  Williamsville.  A  number 
of  pur  men  were  either  killed,  wounded  or  captured, 
and  the  train,  with  its  supplies,  taken  charge  of  by  the 
captors.  A  force  of  several  hundred  men  was  sent  to 
this  vicinity,  to  endeavor  to  retrieve  the  loss.  The  re- 
maining force  at  Monterey  soon  moved  forward,  twelve 
miles,  to  the  village  of  McDowell,  at  the  foot  of  Bull 
Pasture  mountains;  and  two  regiments  were  pushed 
out  fifteen  miles  in  advance  of  that,  and  across  the 
Shenandoah  mountains.  The  expedition  from  Wil- 
liamsville rejoined  the  command  at  McDowell,  on  the 
4th  of  May,  bringing  in  large  quantities  of  supplies. 

Gen.  Milroy  had  here  now  about  4,000  men,  and  re- 
inforcements were  expected  from  Franklin.  On  the 
morning  of  May  7,  the  enemy  fell  upon  the  two  ad- 
vanced regiments,  and,  with  overwhelming  numbers, 
drove  them  back  toward  McDowell,  with  the  loss  of 
some  prisoners  and  almost  all  their  camp  equipage  and 
baggage.  Learning  of  their  rapid  retreat,  the  Seventy- 
third  Ohio  regiment  and  Hindman's  battery  were  or- 
dered to  their  support.  It  was  six  miles  across  the 
Bull  Pasture  mountains;  and  four  miles  out  we  met  the 
retreating  column  in  a  narrow  mountain  road.  It  was 
some  time  before  our  gun-carriages  and  wagons  could 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       17 

be  turned  around,  so  that  we  might  return  to  McDow- 
ell. Three  miles  away,  we  could  plainly  see  the  rebel 
column  winding  down  the  Shenandoah  mountains,  close 
upon  the  heels  of  our  men.  A  battery  was  opened 
across  the  narrow  valley,  checking  their  advance;  and 
our  force  reached  McDowell  without  disturbance. 


BATTLE  AT  M?DOWELL. 

The  position  of  our  little  army  at  McDowell  was  on 
a  low  range  of  hills,  parallel  with,  and  about  six  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  Bull  Pasture  river,  which  runs  at 
the  foot  of  the  mountain ;  our  left  resting  on  the 
village. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  May,  Gen.  Milroy 
made  disposition  for  battle,  and  awaited  the  coming  of 
the  enemy.  Our  position  was  overlooked  by  the  moun- 
tain, whose  summit,  at  the  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half, 
aiforded  a  complete  view  of  our  forces,  position  and 
movements.  Here,  on  a  commanding  point,  the  enemy 
appeared  during  the  morning,  and  seemed  to  be  moving 
into  position  and  planting  batteries.  Our  artillery 
opened  upon  them  at  once,  and  our  skirmishers  engaged 
theirs  on  the  mountain  side.  A  section  of  artillery  was 
also  sent  across  the  river,  and  took  position  on  a  spur 
of  the  mountain  north  of  the  pass.  Supported  by  two 
regiments,  it  worked  vigorously  on  the  enemy's  posi- 
tion. 


18  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE. 

Gen.  Schenck  arrived  from  Franklin,  at  noon,  with 
reinforcements,  swelling  our  numbers  to  about  6,000 
men.  Though  senior  in  rank,  Gen.  Schenck  did  not  at 
once  assume  command. 

Skirmishing  and  artillery  firing  continued  throughout 
the  day,  and,  late  in  the  afternoon,  Gen.  Milroy  deter- 
mined to  make  a  sortie  upon  the  enemy's  position,  to 
drive  him  from  it,  if  possible,  or,  at  least,  to  develop  his 
strength.  Three  companies  of  the  Seventy-third  Ohio 
were  engaged  on  the  skirmish  line  daring  a  part  of  the 
day,  while  the  larger  portion  of  the  battalion  was  in  po- 
sition on  the  extreme  right,  guarding  the  flank  of  the 
army.  Four  regiments  were  moved  across  the  river, 
and  up  the  slope  of  the  mountain,  through  the  woods 
on  the  right  of  the  pass.  Nearly  a  mile  of  woodland 
intervenes  between  the  river  and  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  where  there  are  open  fields. 

It  was  just  sunset  when  our  attacking  party  emerged 
from  the  woods,  moving  upon  the  enemy  at  close  range. 
The  attack  was  most  daring,  and  evidently  impressed 
the  enemy  (as  was,  perhaps,  intended)  that  we  were 
ready  and  able  to  dispute  their  further  advance.  But 
in  vain  did  our  forces  try  to  drive  them  from  their  po- 
sition. The  enemy  kept  bringing  forward  fresh  troops, 
and  all  efforts  to  dislodge  them  were  fruitless.  Two 
additional  regiments  were  sent  to  the  support  of  the 
attacking  party ;  so  that  nearly  half  of  our  army  was 
engaged.  An  incessant  roll  of  musketry  was  kept 
up  until  an  hour  after  dark,  when,  by  common  con- 
sent, the  firing  ceased.  Our  forces  at  once  retired 
across  the  river,  carrying  their  wounded  with  them. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.'  REGIMENT.  19 

Information,  gathered  from  prisoners  and  other 
sources,  went  to  show  that  the  rebel  generals,  Jackson 
and  Johnson,  had  combined  their  forces,  and  were  now 
18,000  strong ;  while  the  Union  forces  were  scarcely 
6,000 — were  far  from  any  base,  and  had  but 'limited 
supplies.  It  was  determined  to  fall  back  toward  Frank- 
lin, under  cover  of  this  spirited  attack ;  and  accordingly 
the  retreat  began  about  midnight.  Our  skirmish  lines 
were  held  until  near  daylight ;  and  so  quiet  was  the 
movement,  that  the  enemy  did  not  know  of  it  until 
the  morning  revealed  to  them  our  burning  and  deserted 
camps.  Ten  men  belonging  to  the  Seventy-third  Ohio, 
who  were  on  picket,  could  not  be  found  in  the  darkness 
of  the  night,  and,  not  knowing  of  the  movement  of  our 
army,  remained  at  their  post,  and  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands.  The  army  moved  rapidly,  but  in  good  order, 
carrying  away  all  its  effects  for  which  transportation 
could  be  furnished,  and  burning  the  remainder. 

We  were  halted  for  dinner  in  a  commanding  position, 
twelve  miles  out  on  the  road  to  Franklin.  \Vhile  here 
the  enemy's  cavalry  made  a  dash",  and  captured  a  por- 
tion of  our  rear-guard.  Gen.  Schenck  made  dispositions 
for  battle,  supposing  the  enemy  was  close  upon  us  in 
force  ;  but,  after  waiting  for  several  hours  without  be- 
ing attacked,  the  march  was  resumed. 

We  arrived  at  Franklin  on  the  afternoon  of  May  10. 
Here  our  generals  determined  to  make  a  stand,  until 
the  arrival  of  Gen.  Fremont,  who  was  expected  with 
large  reinforcements. 


20  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


POSITION  AT  FRANKLIN. 

Our  forces  were  advantageously  posted  around  the 
town,  and  for  two  days  a  desultory  cannonade  and 
skirmish  fire  was  kept  up  between  the  belligerents :  the 
enemy  all  the  time  feeling,  though  not  seriously  press- 
ing our  lines. 

On  the  13th,  Gen.  Fremont  and  staff  arrived.  The 
army  was  drawn  up  to  receive  him,  and  gave  him  a 
most  hearty  welcome.  On  the  following  day,  his  army 
of  reinforcement,  consisting  of  about  10,000  men,  came 
into  Franklin,  with  drums  beating,  and  bugles  and 
bands  playing,  Among  them  was  the  celebrated  Blen- 
ker's  division,  and  it  was  novel  as  it  was  agreeable  for 
our  Western  men,  who  had  never  been  in  a  large  army, 
to  meet  these  men  from  the  Potomac,  to  whom  the  life 
of  the  camp  seemed  as  easy  as  the  every-day  life  of 
home. 

Finding  us  able  to  cope  with  them  now,  the  enemy 
withdrew  from  our  front,  and  moved  off  toward  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah.  Our  army  remained  here  for  sev- 
eral days ;  but  the  question  of  rations  became  an 
alarming  one.  We  had  plenty  of  beef,  but  nothing 
else.  Hard-bread  grew  so  scarce,  that  a  half-dollar 
was  refused  for  a  single  cracker.  Officers,  in  some  in- 
stances, took  the  corn  from  their  horses,  and  gave  to 
the  men  to  parch.  The  sour  wine  and  Limburg  cheese 
of  the  Blenker  sutleries  were  entirely  exhausted,  and 
our  brave  Teutons  looked  with  sadness  upon  their 
empty  aproadsacks."  Still,  the  men  bore  these  priva- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  21 

tions  with  commendable  patience,  though  many  fell  sick 
for  want  of  proper  food.  About  the  22d  of  May,  how- 
ever, supplies  arrived  from  New  creek,  and  starvation 
threatened  us  no  longer. 


THE  ARMY  OF  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

The  forces  now  gathered  at  Franklin  were  organized 
into  an  army,  under  command  of  Gen.  Fremont,  which 
was  called  the  uArmy  of  the  Mountains."  Our  regi- 
ment was  now,  for  the  first  time,  brigaded,  being  placed 
in  the  brigade  commanded  by  Gen.  Schenck.  Gen. 
Fremont  assumed  command  of  the  Mountain  Depart- 
ment under  circumstances  calculated  to  inspire  confi- 
dence that  the  summer  campaign  would  not  be  fruitless 
of  good. 

May  25th,  our  army  left  Franklin,  carrying  as  far  as 
Petersburg  all  our  sick  that  could  be  transported.  We 
moved  through  a  pleasant  country,  and  struck  the 
splendid  valley  of  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac  at 
Petersburg.  From  this  point,  sending  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  most  of  our  baggage,  to  New  Creek,  the 
army  moved  on  down  the  valley  to  Moorfield.  Here 
our  regiment  had  completed  its  first  circle.  With  great 
glee  we  recounted  our  valorous  achievements  at  the 
"battle  of  Moorfield,"  three  months  before,  and  with 
little  effort  persuaded  ourselves  that  those  three  months 
had  transformed  us  from  raw  recruits  into  real  veteran 
soldiers. 


22  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

May  28th,  our  army  left  Moorfield  for  the  Shenan- 
doah  valley.  There  had  been  trouble  in  the  valley. 
Stonewall  Jackson,  after  leaving  our  front  at  Franklin 
had  suddenly  fallen  on  Gen.  Banks  at  Strasburg,  and 
had  driven  him  back — with  no  little  disaster  to  our 
arms — through  Winchester  to  Harper's  Ferry  and 
Maryland  Hights.  Our  column  reached  the  summit  of 
the  Branch  mountains,  and  rested  for  a  day.  And  very 
u  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  "  seemed  that  day  of  rest 
to  us,  as  our  eyes  swept  to  the  east  or  to  the  west,  over 
the  green  ocean  of  wooded  hills.  On  the  next  day  our 
army  moved  on  through  Wardensville,  where  our  ad- 
vance skirmished  with  the  enemy's  cavalry,  driving 
them  back  toward  Strasburg. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  June  1st,  our  ad- 
vance brigade,  under  command  of  Col.  Cluseret,  was 
attacked,  and  compelled  to  fall  back.  The  main  army 
was  hurriedly  brought  forward,  and  disposed  in  order  of 
battle.  Our  generals  evidently  expected  an  attack  by 
the  enemy  in  force.  There  was  occasional  artillery 
firing  throughout  the  day  on  both  sides,  but  no  engage- 
ment occurred.  Our  brigade  was  in  line  in  an  open 
field,  and  during  the  afternoon  we  could  plainly  see  the 
enemy's  trains  moving  up  the  valley,  along  the  Win- 
chester turnpike ;  showing  us  that  they  were  falling 
back  from  Winchester.  We  were  under  orders  to 
march  at  midnight,  but  did  not  move  until  next  morn- 
ing, when  we  were  hurried  forward,  almost  on  the 
double- quick,  six 'miles,  to  Strasburg. 

The  enemy  had  escaped  up  the  valley,  and  our  forces 
were  pressing  them,  engaging  their  rear-guard.  Just 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  23 

as  we  reached  Strasburg,  a  column  of  Gen.  Shields' 
army,  composed  of  cavalry  and  flying  artillery,  came  in 
from  Front  Royal ;  and,  as  the  two  columns  filed  in  to- 
gether, and  moved  rapidly  up  the  valley,  there  were 
such  cheers  of  greeting  as  lifted  one's  heart  to  hear. 
Our  army  followed  closely  in  the  footsteps  of  the  re- 
treating rebels,  through  Woodstock  to  Edinburg,  where 
we  were  detained  by  the  burning  of  a  bridge,  and  then 
on  to  Mount  Jackson.  There  was  almost  constant 
skirmishing  between  our  advance  and  the  rebel  rear- 
guard. Quite  a  number  of  wounded  men  and  prisoners 
were  taken  to  the  rear,  and  several  squads  of  Banks' 
men,  who  had  been  captured  by  the  enemy,  escaped 
and  came  back  to  us.  They  were  the  gladdest  men  we 
had  seen  in  the  army.  Our  boys  loaded  them  with 
hard-tack,  and  while  they  related  their  adventures,  they 
ate  as  if  they  had  been  well-nigh  starved. 

At  Mount  Jackson,  the  enemy  crossed  the  river,  and 
burned  the  bridge  after  them.  Our  forces  remained 
here  two  days,  while  the  enemy  lay  quietly  just  across 
the  stream.  The  rain  poured  in  torrents  day  and  night, 
and  the  streams  were  swollen  out  of  their  banks.  Gen. 
Fremont  evidently  expected  Gen.  Shields  to  move  up 
the  Luray  valley,  possess  himself  of  the  gaps  in  the 
Blue  Ridge  and  of  the  bridge  at  Port  Republic  ;  and,  if 
possible,  cut  off  Jackson's  retreat.  The  enemy  fell  back 
through  New  Market  and  Harrisonburg,  closely  fol- 
lowed by  our  army. 


24  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


BATTLE  OF  CROSS  KEYS. 

Gen.  Jackson  made  a  stand  at  Cross  Keys,  where 
our  forces  came  up  with  him ;  and  a  sanguinary,  but 
indecisive  battle  was  fought  on  the  8th  day  of  June. 
In  this  engagement,  the  Sevanty-third  Ohio  supported 
a  battery,  and  skirmished  heavily  with  the  enemy,  los- 
ing eight  men  killed  and  wounded.  We  slept  on  arms 
during  the  night,  fully  expecting  a  renewal  of  the  bat- 
tle on  the  following  day;  but  when  the  morning  came, 
the  enemy  had  fallen  back  to  Port  Republic,  and,  having 
gotten  possession  of  the  bridge,  crossed  the  river,  and 
inflicted  serious  loss  on  the  small  detachment  from  Gen. 
Shields'  army  sent  to  co-operate  with  Gen.  Fremont, 
and  which  had,  at  one  time,  held  the  position  and  bridge 
at  Port  Republic. 

Gen.  Jackson  having  thus  escaped  across  the 
river,  moved  through  one  of  the  gaps  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  in  the  direction  of  Charlotteville.  Gen.  Fre- 
mont deeming  it  imprudent  to  follow  him,  aband- 
oned further  pursuit. 


RETURN  TO  STRASBURG. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  our  army  began  falling  back 
to  a  position  where  it  could  be  more  easily  subsisted. 
We  rested  a  few  days  at  Mount  Jackson,  from  which 
point  ambulances  were  sent  back  to  Harrisonburg  after 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  25 

the  wounded,  for  whom  there  had  been  no  transporta- 
tion. The  rebel  cavalry  followed  our  army  closely,  and 
were  now  scouring  the  country  in  every  direction.  Our 
generals  deemed  it  prudent  to  retire  still  farther  down 
the  valley.  They  evidently  anticipated  an  attack  by 
the  enemy,  as  we  were,  for  several  days,  held  in  con- 
stant readiness  for  battle,  and  compelled  to  sleep  on 
our  arms  at  night.  Accordingly,  on  the  20th  of  June 
we  fell  back  to  Strasburg. 


ENCAMPMENT  AT  MIDDLETOWN. 

After  remaining  at  Strasburg  two  or  three  days,  the 
army  retired  a  few  miles  further  down  the  pike,  to  the 
village  of  Middletown,  and  went  into  camp.  Lieut.- 
Col.  Hyer  resigned,  and  Major  Long  was  appoiated  to 
fill  his  place.  The  convalescents  and  baggage  left  by 
our  army  at  Petersburg  were  now  brought  forward,  and 
we  had  for  a  while  quietude  and  rest.  The  campaign 
of  the  valley  had  been  a  very  laborious  and  severe  one. 
For  six  weeks  we  had  neither  tents  nor  shelter  of  any 
kind ;  and  our  marches,  in  the  heat  of  early  summer, 
had  been  most  trying  on  the  men. 
P ;  While  here,  Gen.  Fremont  was  superseded  by  Gen. 
Sigel;  and  the  uArmy  of  the  Mountains"  became  the 
First  Corps  of  the  "Army  of  Virginia."  Gen.  Schenck 
was  placed  in  command  of  our  division,  and  Col.  N.  C. 
McLean,  of  the  Seventy-fifth  Ohio  regiment,  became 
the  commander  of  our  brigade,  which  now  consisted  of 
8  \ 


26  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  Fifty-fifth,   the    Seventy-third,    the    Seventy-fifth 
and  the  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  regiments. 


CROSSING  THE  BLUE  RIDGE. 

Our  stay  at  Middletown  was,  however,  very  short. 
We  had  scarcely  gotten  into  comfortable  encampment, 
when,  on.  the  7th  of  July,  our  army  was  again  set  in 
motion.  We  marched  to  Front  Royal,  and  from  there 
moved  along  the  main  stream  of  the  Shenandoah  up 
the  valley  of  Luray,  to  the  town  of  that  name. 

After  halting  for  a  day  at  this  place,  on  the  10th  of 
July  we  climbed  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  from  its  summit 
looked  down  on  "Old  Virginia."  We  went  into  camp 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  on  the  eastern  side,  at  the 
village  of  Sperryville. 


CAMP  LIFE  AT  SPERRYVILLE. 

We  had  a  pleasant  camp  and  a  most  welcome  rest  of 
nearly  a  month  at  Sperryville :  a  rest  that  was  greatly 
needed  after  the  long  marches  over  the  mountains  and 
up  the  valley.  The  fruits  of  summer,  such  as  cherries 
and  blackberries,  were  here  more  abundant  than  we 
had  ever  seen  them  anywhere,  and  the  troops  feasted 
upon  them  with  eagerness  and  delight.  We  grew  very 
tired  of  the  dry  marching  rations,  and  continually 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  27 

longed  for  fruit  and  vegetables.     Here  we  had  abund- 
ance, and  the  health  of  the  army  was  visibly  improved. 

On  the  16th  of  July  the  Seventy-third  Ohio,  with  a 
force  of  cavalry  and  a  section  of  artillery,  was  sent  on 
a  reconnoisance  in  the  direction  of  Madison  Court 
House.  We  marched  about  sixteen  miles,  through  a 
pleasant  farming  district,  when  we  halted  for  a  day, 
while  the  cavalry  pushed  on  to  the  Court  House.  A 
few  prisoners  were  captured  in  the  town,  and  our  cav- 
alry returned.  We  filled  a  large  train  of  wagons  with 
corn,  and  returned  to  Sperryville  on  the  third  day. 
The  plentifulness  of  corn  and  cattle  in  these  farming 
districts  of  Virginia  satisfied  us  that  the  rebellion  would 
never  starve,  as  some  had  hoped  and  predicted.  The 
agricultural  resources  of  the  South  were  so  great  that 
she  would,  with  slave  labor,  be  able  to  feed  all  the 
fighting  men  within  her  borders. 

The  news  of  McClellan's  disastrous  battles  before 
Richmond  came  to  us  here,  and  produced  gloom 
throughout  the  army.  Gen.  Banks  moved  his  army 
from  Little  Washington  to  Culpepper  Court  House  and 
beyond.  Gen.  Pope  arrived  at  Sperryville,  and  as- 
sumed command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia.  Our  corps 
gave  him  the  usual  welcome,  and  passed  in  review  be- 
fore him.  We  had  also  a  field-day  at  Woodville,  a  vil- 
lage six  miles  from  Sperryville.  It  was  the  first  occa- 
sion of  the  kind  in  which  our  regiment  had  participated, 
and  was  altogether  a  pleasant  sham. 

While  here  we  disburdened  ourselves  of  a  large  amount 
of  baggage  and  surplus  stores,  exchanging,  also,  our 
Sibley  and  wall  tents  for  the  ordinary  shelters. 


28  JOURNAL- HISTORY  OF  THE 

Finally,  came  the  report  that  Stonewall  Jackson  was 
crossing  the  Rapidan  river,  near  Orange  Court  House, 
and  moving  on  Culpepper,  and  on  the  8th  of  August,  we 
hurriedly  broke  camp,  and  moved  forward  to  join  our 
forces  with  those  of  Gen.  Banks.  We  left  our  pleasant 
camp  with  regret.  That  charming  summer  month,  in 
our  white  tents,  on  the  green-sod  led  hills  of  Sperry- 
ville — with  long,  bright  days,  and  noble  sunsets  over  the 
Blue  Ridge,  and  evening  serenades,  and  delightfully 
cool  nights,  made  a  picture  pleasant  to  look  back  upon 
in  our  after  history. 

We  marched  all  night  on  our  road  to  Culpepper,  and 
at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  lay  down  for  a 
little  rest.  After  breakfasting,  we  pushed  on  again, 
and  arrived  at  Culpepper  at  noon. 


BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  MOUNTAIN. 

Scarcely  had  we  arrived  when,  from  near  Cedar 
mountain,  only  six  miles  in  our  front,  there  came  heavy 
sounds  of  cannon  and  musketry.  Gen.  Banks  was  en- 
gaging the  enemy.  We  could  see  the  smoke  from  the 
batteries  and  the  bursting  shells.  We  rest  during  the 
afternoon,  and  listen  to  the  sounds  of  battle  with 
trembling  hearts.  It  seems  like  real  earnest-work, 
not  continuous,  but  growing  fiercer  on  occasions.  At 
sunset  we  are  ordered  forward,  and  march  through 
the  town  with  colors  flying,  taking  the  road  to  Cedar 
mountain.  We  immediately  begin  to  observe  the  evi- 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       29 

dences  of  a  sanguinary  battle.  There  are  ambulances 
loaded  with  wounded,  some  of  whom  are  crying  out  as 
if  in  excruciating  pain.  There  are  groups  of  slightly 
wounded,  walking  back  to  Culpepper.  There  are  some 
on  horseback,  and  some  in  wagons ;  and  all  tell  of  a 
bitter  and  bloody  contest  at  the  front.  We  move  on 
four  miles,  and  then  turn  aside  into  a  field,  and  rest 
on  our  arms.  Night  has  seemingly  brought  to  an  end 
the  fiercer  part  of  the  conflict,  but  there  are  occasional 
outbursts  of  musketry  and  cannon,  which  tell  that  the 
two  armies  are  still  grappling  in  the  terrible  embrace 
of  battle,  probably  to  be  renewed  with  fiercer  and 
bloodier  fight  on  the  morrow. 

A  little  after  midnight  our  brigade  is  roused  up,  and 
we  proceed  to  the  front.  In  the  stillness  of  night,  we 
pass  groups  of  stragglers  and  camp  followers,  and  parks 
of  ambulances  and  artillery,  and  reserves  of  cavalry 
and  infantry ;  and,  two  miles  from  our  bivouac,  we  file 
into  an  open  field,  with  only  pickets  in  our  front.  We 
lay  down  to  await  the  coming  daylight. 

Just  at  dawn,  a  picket-post,  within  a  hundred  paces 
of  us,  opened  with  a  volley  on  a  squad  of  rebel  cavalry 
that  had  stolen  up  very  near  to  us.  The  whole  brigade 
sprang  to  their  feet,  and  were,  in  a  moment,  ready  for 
action.  But  the  cavalry  scampered  away ;  and  after 
standing  to  arms  awhile,  we  were  formed  in  the  main 
line  of  battle,  and  awaited  what  the  day  might  bring 
forth.  There  was  an  occasional  shot  from  a  skirmish- 
er's gun,  but  no  engagement  took  place  during  the  day. 
On  the  next  day,  a  heavy  reconnoisance  was  sent  out 
on  our  left  front,  and  a  flag-of  truce  party  was  sent  to 


30  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  battle-field  to  bury  our  dead.  Gen.  Banks  having, 
on  the  9th,  suffered  a  temporary  reverse,  and  been 
driven  back  for  a  mile  or  more,  had  left  most  of  his 
dead  and  some  of  his  wounded  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

King's  division  now  arrived  from  Fredericksburg,  and 
took  position  on  our  left,  and  we  felt  quite  secure.  That 
night  our  camp-fires  swept  around  in  a  magnificent 
semi-circle — a  war  picture  to  be  remembered  for  a  life. 

The  next  morning,  the  enemy  had  fallen  back,  and 
Gen.  Milroy  pushed  out  after  him,  stopping  a  few  miles 
out  to  await  the  movement  of  the  main  army.  Banks, 
with  his  shattered  and  mangled  command,  moved  back 
to  Culpepper,  having  fully  illustrated  again,  in  a  most 
costly  way,  his  want  of  military  genius. 


THE  RAPID  AN  -AND  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK. 

Two  days  later,  Sigel's  corps  moved  forward  ten 
miles  to  the  Rapidan  river,  on  the  Orange  Court  House 
road.  The  enemy's  cavalry  held  the  line  of  the  Rap- 
idan ;  and,  from  a  mountain  look-out  at  the  left  of  our 
picket-line,  we  could  plainly  see  the  smoke  of  their 
camp-fires  near  Orange  Court  House.  When  we  had 
remained  here  about  a  week,  the  enemy,  under  Jack- 
son, was  reported  moving  down  the  right  bank  of  the 
Rapidan,  with  the  evident  intention  of  getting  between 
the  city  of  Washington  and  the  Army  of  Virginia. 
This  made  it  necessary  for  our  army  to  fall  back ;  and 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  31 

accordingly,  orders  were  issued  to  that  effect.  Our 
corps  moved  slowly  back  through  Culpepper,  and  on 
to  the  Warrenton  White  Sulphur  Springs.  Banks  and 
King  crossed  the  river  at  the  Rappahannock  station, 
closely  followed  by  the  enemy,  who  at  once  engaged 
our  forces  at  the  bridge.  We  afterward  learned  that 
our  corps  had,  this  last  day,  been  marching  on  a  road 
parallel  to  the  enemy's  moving  column,  and  only  five 
miles  distant.  Early  the  next  morning,  our  corps 
moved  down  the  river  to  the  station,  it  being  fully  ex- 
pected that  an  attack  in  force  would  be  made  at  once 
by  the  enemy.  During  the  day,  there  were  heavy 
artillery  duels  at  the  bridge,  but  no  general  engage- 
ment. Our  army  was  massed  near  the  bridge,  and 
could  have  resisted  a  powerful  column  in  any  attempt 
to  cross  the  river. 

The  next  morning,  the  enemy  was  observed  moving 
to  his  left,  and  our  division  moved,  early,  four  miles  up 
the  river  to  Freeman's  Ford,  it  being  determined  by 
our  generals,  if  possible,  to  hold  the  line  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock. 


BATTLE  AT  FREEMAN'S  FORD. 


Our  batteries  were  already  in  position,  commanding 
the  ford  when  we  arrived ;  and  the  enemy  was  also  in 
force  on  the  other  side.  A  lively  artillery  duel  was 
kept  up  nearly  all  day.  Our  brigade  was  massed  near 
the  ford,  and  our  skirmishers  deployed  along  the  bank 
of  the  river.  In  the  afternoon,  Gen.  Milroy  crossed 


JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

(e  river  with  his  body-guard,  and  reconnoitered  the 
"woods  on  our  left  front. 

Determining  to  develop  the  strength  of  the  enemy 
here,  three  regiments  were  thrown  across  the  river,  and 
pushed  out  boldly  into  those  woods.  Coming  at  length 
upon  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  they  were  driven  back 
in  confusion  and  with  considerable  loss,  Gen.  Bolen,  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  command  of  the  brigade,  being  killed. 
Our  men  retreated  from  the  woods,  and  huddled  to- 
gether on  the  hill-side  near  the  river.  The  enemy 
came  out  with  shouts,  and  were  only  checked  by  a 
battery  and  line  of  infantry,  on  our  side  of  the  river, 
opening  fire  over  the  heads  of  our  retreating  comrades. 
The  Union  forces  recrossed  the  river,  and  the  infantry 
fire  ceased.  Desultory  cannonading  was  still  kept  up, 
and  the  next  morning,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  sent 
to  the  support  of  the  principal  battery  engaged.  Be- 
fore noon,  however,  we  were  called  back  to  the  brigade, 
and  the  whole  corps  moved  rapidly  toward  the  White 
Sulphur  Springs. 

The  enemy  had  gained  possession  of  the  ford  at  the 
Springs — had  thrown  a  brigade  or  division  across,  and 
was  fighting  for  a  foothold  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river.  But  the  impetuous  Milroy  was  soon  there,  dis- 
puting their  advance,  and  driving  them  back  again. 
Our  brigade  swung  around  on  the  right,  and  our  regi- 
ment supported  a  section  of  artillery  moving  on  the 
extreme  flank,  and  directed  by  Sigel's  eagle-eyed  staff 
officer — Captain  Ulric  Dahlgren.  The  enemy  was 
pressed  steadily  back,  and  compelled  to  retire  across 
the  river. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  33 

With  our  section  of  artillery,  the  regiment  stood 
picket  during  the  night,  half  a  mile  out  on  the  flank 
of  the  corps.  Then,  in  the  morning,  the  whole  corps 
swept  around  the  spring,  and  occupied  the  command- 
ing hills  for  a  mile  up  the  river. 


ARTILLERY  DUELS. 

Here,  discovering  the  enemy,  our  batteries  opened 
again,  and  were  replied  to  by  the  enemy's  guns,  and, 
for  two  hours  a  spirited  artillery  duel  was  carried  on. 
We  could  plainly  see  the  rebel  trains  and  troops  moving 
up  the  river  to  their  left,  which,  of  course,  necessitated 
a  corresponding  movement  of  our  army. 

About  noon,  we  drew  off  from  the  hills  at  White  Sul- 
pher,  and  moved  up  to  the  village  and  ford  of  Waterloo, 
where  the  artillery  duel  was  repeated  and  prolonged. 
We  remained  here  until  the  next  evening  at  sunset, 
when,  finding  that  the  enemy  still  continued  to  move 
heavy  columns  up  the  river,  we  drew  off  and  marched 
to  Warrenton,  arriving  there  about  midnight. 


MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  TWO  ARMIES. 

It  was  now  evident  that  the  whole  of  Lee's  army  was 
in  our  front,  and  that  it  was  pressing  forward  to  fall 
upon,  and,  if  possible  crush  the  Army  of  Virginia  be- 
4 


34  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

fore  it  could  be  reinforced  by  McClellan's  forces,  which 
were  being  transported  to  Aquia  Creek  and  Alexandria. 
Our  division  remained  at  Warrenton  a  day  and  night. 
Meanwhile,  large  numbers  of  the  sick  that  filled  the 
churches  and  temporary  hospitals  of  the  town  were 
transported  by  rail  to  Alexandria ;  and  the  army  began 
to  strip  for  the  fight,  which,  it  was  evident,  must  soon 
come.  The  rebel  cavalry  made  a  raid  on  our  trains 
near  Catlet's  Station,  and  did  considerable  damage. 

On  the  morning  of  August  26th,  we  moved  out  on 
the  Alexandria  pike,  passed  through  New  Baltimore 
and  Buckland,  and  arrived,  during  the  afternoon,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Gainesville,  when  the  rebels  appeared  in 
our  front.  A  force  of  rebels  had,  in  the  morning, 
passed  over  the  road  we  were  then  on,  and  a  column 
had  been  passing  from  Thoroughfare  Gap,  through 
Gainesville  during  the  day.  Our  advance  found  a  force 
at  Gainesville,  and  fell  back  until  the  column  came  up. 
Some  shells  were  thrown  into  the  woods,  and  we  stood 
to  our  arms  during  the  evening,  and  rested  on  them 
at  night.  It  was  afterward  known  that  this  was 
Stonewall  Jackson's  army,  which,  crossing  the  pike 
at  Gainesville,  moved  on  to  the  railroad  at  Bristoe, 
where  they  were  repulsed  by  Gen.  Hooker,  and  then 
moved  off  by  the  left  to  Manassas  Junction. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  our  corps  moved 
through  Gainesville,  in  the  direction  of  Manassas.  We 
reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Junction  before  noon,  and 
found  that  Jackson  had  left  there  early  in  the  morning, 
after  supplying  his  troops  out  of  our  immense  stores  at 
the  Junction,  and  buruing  what  he  did  not  want.  There 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  35 

was  much  delay  and  apparent  indecision  here,  and,  late 
in  the  afternoon,  we  filed  to  the  left,  and  marched 
across  to  the  old  Bull  Run  battle-ground.  We  reached 
the  high  grounds  commanding  Bull  Run,  and  the  War- 
renton  and  Alexandria  pike  just  before  sunset,  and  just 
as  the  rear  of  Jackson's  army  was  filing  past.  Our 
artillery  opened  upon  his  rear-guard,  near  the  "  Stone 
Bridge,"  but  he  marched  on,  without  turning  to  give  us 
battle.  He  had  made  the  entire  circuit  from  Gaines- 
ville, via  Bristoe,  Manassas  and  Centerville,  and  was 
now  on  his  way  back  to  Gainesville ;  and  our  generals 
had  let  him !  Our  artillery  kept  up  their  fire  until 
after  dark,  and  just  at  dusk  there  was  a  fearfel  mus- 
ketry fire  in  the  direction  of  Gainesville,  telling  us  that 
our  forces  were  engaging  the  enemy  in  the  vicinity  of 
that  village.  Sigel's  skirmish  line  rested  across  the 
pike,  about  a  mile  from  Groveton,  near  the  "  Stone 
House,"  and  we  slept  on  our  arms  for  the  night. 


BATTLE  OP  "  SECOND  BULL  RUN." 

Just  after  daylight  next  morning,  Gen.  Milroy  went 
forward  to  feel  the  enemy.  Skirmishing  began  early  in 
the  day,  and  continued  with  greater  or  less  earnestness. 
Our  batteries  opened  at  long  range,  and  the  guns  of  the 
enemy  replied  at  the  distance  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half. 
As  soon  as  the  position  of  the  enemy  had  been  deter- 
mined, our  whole  corps  went  forward  in  order  of  battle  : 
the  divisions  of  Milroy  and  Shurz  on  the  right,  and 


36  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Schenck,  supported  by  Reno  with  the  Pennsylvania 
reserves,  on  the  left  of  the  turnpike.  Our  line  moved 
on  up  the  inclined  plain,  through  wood  and  field,  past 
Groveton  and  right  up  to  within  a  few  hundred  yards 
of  the  rebel  batteries.  Milroy  moved  along  the  em- 
bankment of  the  Manassas  Gap  railroad,  and  tried  to 
charge  those  batteries  which  had  been  working  slowly 
all  the  morning;  but  he  was  repulsed  with  loss. 
Schenck  was  now  ordered  to  cross  the  pike,  mass  his 
troops  behind  a  lot  of  timber,  and  charge  the  enemy's 
batteries.  Just  as  the  division  was  massed,  however, 
Gen.  Reynolds  came  dashing  down  on  horseback  from 
the  direction  of  Milroy's  engagement,  and  said  to  Gen. 
Schenck,  "  General,  for  God's  sake,  don't  go  up  there  !" 
Doubtless  Milroy  was  already  repulsed,  and  we  should 
have  received  the  full  broadside  of  the  rebel  batteries,  in 
grape  and  canister,  the  moment  we  unmasked  the  woods- 
Directly,  Gen.  Schenck  received  orders  to  recross  the 
pike,  and  fall  back  toward  Groveton  which  he  did  in 
good  order.  Scarcely  had  we  started,  however,  when  a 
battery  from  the  rebel  right  opened  on  us,  and  fairly 
plowed  up  the  field  over  which  we  were  passing  with 
shot  and  shell.  The  rebel  infantry  pressed  close  on  us, 
also ;  but  we  turned  upon  them  at  Groveton,  and  en- 
gaged and  held  them  there  until  late  in  the  after- 
noon, when  we  again  retired  to  the  vicinity  of  "  Stone 
House."  For  an  hour  before  sunset  there  was  a  marked 
lull  in  the  battle,  though  skirmishing  was  kept  up  all 
along  the  lines,  and  it  became  evident  that  both  sides 
were  preparing  for  a  last  struggle  for  the  mastery  of 
the  field.  The  two  armies  now  stood  near  where  they 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  37 

did  in  the  opening  contest  of  the  morning ;  or  rather, 
the  enemy  was  advanced,  and  we  were  in  the  nearer 
embrace  of  a  desperate  and  deadly  last  effort. 

It  was  just  before  sunset  that  a  staff  officer  rode  up 
to  Gen.  Schenck,  and  said,  "  The  general  desires  you 
to  move  your  division  across  the  pike.  Gens.  McDow- 
ell and  Porter  are  coming  in  on  the  left."  How  our 
hearts  leaped  to  hear  of  this  timely  help,  just  when  the 
last  struggle  was  to  be  made  for  the  laurels  of  that  hard 
day's  work  !  Scarcely  had  our  orders  been  executed 
when  McDowell's  column  came  pouring  over  the  field 
in  splendid  style.  They  came  down  the  hill,  crossed 
the  run  knee  deep  in  water,  and  went  forward  along 
the  pike  to  the  very  front  of  battle,  all  on  the  double- 
quick,  and  shouting  and  cheering  as  we  never  heard 
men  shout  and  cheer  before.  It  was  a  grand  exhibition 
of  the  enthusiasm  of  battle.  But  the  brave  fellows  paid 
dearly  for  their  heroic  work ;  for,  though  the  night 
soon  closed  over  the  field,  and  put  an  end  to  the  con- 
test, next  morning  we  could  see  their  dead  bodies 
strewn  over  the  field  for  nearly  half  a  mile  in  our  front. 

That  night  was  very  dark,  and  as,  at  the  close  of  the 
contest,  no  connected  picket-line  was  formed,  matters 
were  not  a  little  confused,  and  once  or  twice  our  own 
men  fired  into  each  other.  During  the  night  the  ene- 
my fell  back  again  to  the  high  ground  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  our  line  ;  and  the  morning  of  August  29th  found 
the  two  armies  in  precisely  the  same  relative  position 
as  that  occupied  by  Sigel  and  Jackson  on  the  morning 
before.  Lee  had,  however,  brought  forward  and  joined 
with  Jackson  all  his  remaining  forces  ;  while  McDowell 


88  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  Porter  had  united  with  Sigel,  and  Hooker  and 
Banks  were  on  the  railroad,  only  six  miles  away. 

Again  the  battle  opened  with  cannon  at  long  range, 
and  a  spirited  artillery  duel  was  kept  up  during  the 
morning,  and  we  saw,  for  the  first  time,  great  slugs  of 
railroad  iron  thrown  by  the  enemy's  guns. 

The  field  this  morning  presented  an  imposing  view. 
Standing  upon  a  hill  near  our  position,  we  could  see 
the  entire  army  gathered  here  (now  numbering  45,000), 
maneuvering  and  massing  preparatory  to  the  work  of 
the  last  day's  battle  of  second  Bull  Run.  It  was,  in- 
deed an  imposing  pageant,  and  we  felt  confident  that  if 
our  army  was  commanded  with  ability,  there  was  no 
danger  of  great  disaster. 

During  the  day  our  forces  on  the  right  pushed  for- 
ward, and  engaged  the  enemy  vigorously,  while  the 
center  and  left  only  advanced  to  the  village  of  Grove- 
ton.  Schenck's  division  had  been  massed  on  the  right 
of  the  pike,  half  a  mile  forward  of  "Stone  House," 
during  the  last  night  and  this  forenoon.  In  the  after- 
noon we  were  ordered  into  a  new  position,  and  formed 
line  on  a  bald  hill  on  the  left  of  the  pike,  half  a  mile 
from  Groveton.  Our  line  was  nearly  perpendicular  to 
the  turnpike,  and  extended  out  some  six  or  eight  hun- 
dred yards.  The  division  held  the  left  of  a  second  line 
of  battle,  McLean's  brigade  forming  the  left  of  the 
division — the  Seventy- third  Ohio  being  on  the  left  of  the 
brigade.  We  were  thus  thrown  on  the  extreme  left  of 
our  army  lines,  and,  as  we  supposed,  were  destined  to 
have  work  to  do.  Our  division  line  was  not  refused 
on  the  left,  but  ended  abruptly  in  an  open  field,  and 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  39 

was  without  any  defenses  whatever.  During  the  after- 
noon, Gen.  Pope  and  some  of  his  subordinates  arrived  at 
the  conclusion  that  the  enemy  was  retreating,  and  leav- 
ing the  Union  army  in  possession  of  the  field.  Under  the 
inspiration  of  this  belief,  that  celebrated  dispatch  was 
sent  to  Washington,  announcing  a  splendid  victory  of 
our  arms,  which,  in  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  was 
such  a  bitter  reflection  on  the  military  genius  and  ca- 
reer of  Maj.-Gen.  John  Pope.  • 

About  four  or  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  however, 
the  battle  began  to  grow  more  earnest.  The  volleys  of 
small  arms  and  roll  of  artillery  told  of  the  beginning  of 
a  fierce  and  bloody  struggle.  The  tide  of  battle  was 
borne  toward  us,  and  soon  we  discovered  the  entire 
rebel  line  advancing  and  driving  every  thing  before  it. 
Their  line  reached  across  the  turnpike,  through  the 
open  grounds,  and  into  the  woods  on  either  side.  They 
came  on  rapidly — firing,  shouting  and  cheering  ;  and  so 
terrible  was  their  sweep  that  all  opposition  seemed  to 
melt  away  before  them.  In  the  center,  our  troops  be- 
came confused,  and  seemed,  in  their  retreat  to  be  hud- 
dling together,  and  crowding  into  and  along  the  pike 
in  some  disorder. 

Still,  on  came  the  rebel  line,  seemingly  fired  with  the 
terrible  enthusiasm  of  victory;  and,  though  our  men 
fought  bravely,  they  could  not  withstand  the  charge  and 
shock  of  that  victorious  line.  The  very  momentum  they 
seemed  to  gain,  sweeping  down,  as  they  did,  from  the 
high  grounds  beyond  Groveton,  made  them  resistless. 
And  still  our  division  stood  waiting  for  the  moment 
when  it  could  pour  in  an  effective  fire.  Finally,  the 


40  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

right  of  the  division  opened  upon  them  as  they  charged 
a  battery  three  hundred  yards  in  our  front.  That  fire 
drove  them  back  behind  a  hill,  where  they  halted  for  a 
moment  to  reform  and  prepare  for  the  charge  on  our 
division.  On  the  left  front  of  our  brigade  (two  hun- 
dred yards  from,  and  masking  the  froift  of,  our  battal- 
ion) was  a  wood  lot ;  and  a  deep  ravine  (three  hun- 
dred yards  in  front  of  our  right)  led  up  into  this  woods. 
Up'this  ravine,  and  into  the  woods  the  enemy  were  now 
seen  marching  by  the  flank ;  and  the  right  of  our  brig- 
ade, from  their  more  advantageous  position,  began  to 
pour  into  them  a  most  effective  fire.  We  watched  and 
waited  with  terrible  anxiety.  One,  two,  three  battle- 
flags  were  seen  to  pass  into  the  woods ;  and  then  we 
knew  that  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  would  have  to  meet 
the  charge  of  a  whole  brigade  of  rebels.  But  we  stand 
firmly,  and  patiently  bide  our  time. 

Just  then  there  emerged  from  the  woods,  half  a  mile 
oufc  on  our  left  flank,  a  brigade  of  men  massed  in  col- 
umn, and  they  bore  down  steadily  toward  us.  Our  regi- 
mental officers  discovered  this  movement,  and  promptly 
informed  the  brigade  commander  that  the  enemy  was 
coming  in  on  our  flank.  But  he  assured  them  that  this 
was  a  brigade  of  our  own  men  coming  to  our  support. 

The  enemy  in  our  front,  moving  in  concert  with  those 
on  our  flank,  now  came  out  of  the  woods — their  line 
masking  and  overlapping  our  own.  The  moment  they 
emerged  from  the  timber,  our  regiment  and  the  whole 
left  of  the  brigade,  poured  into  them  such  a  murderous 
volley  that  they  retreated  to  the  covert  of  the  woods 
again  ;  and  now,  from  their  partial  covert,  they  opened 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       41 

fire  on  us,  and  the  combat  grew  fierce,  indeed.  It  was 
the  first  real,  earnest,  open-field,  line-of-battle  fighting 
we  had  done,  and  the  regiment  seemed  determined  to 
acquit  itself  well.  And  so,  without  any  defenses  what- 
ever, the  battalion  stood  up,  and  delivered  its  fire  .most 
effectively — shouting  and  cheering  as  they  saw  the 
enemy  waver  and  go  back  into  the  woods. 

But  the  contest  was  not  long.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
"  stars  and  bars"  of  the  flanking  column  were  so  plainly 
visible  that  it  required  no  argument  to  persuade  the 
bridage  commander  that  our  "  support"  was  unreliable. 
Just  then,  too,  a  battery  from  our  left  front  opened 
upon  us,  and  the  shot  and  shell  came  plowing  down  our 
lines.  On  came  the  flanking  column,  moving  so  as  to 
gain  our  rear ;  while  the  enemy  in  our  front,  doubtless 
emboldened  by  their  advantage,  advanced  again,  and, 
for  a  little  while,  a  most  murderous  struggle  is  main- 
tained. But  the  contest  is  too  unequal.  Still  we  stand 
until  the  enemy  have  nearly  gained  our  rear,  and  have 
opened  fire  upon  our  flank.  Then  we  retire — yielding 
first  upon  the  left,  then  the  center  and  right.  Some 
twenty  men  on  the  extreme  left,  exposed  to  this  terri- 
ble cross-fire,  sought  shelter  behind  a  garden  fence  ;  but 
in  a  minute  the  two  rebel  lines  have  closed  in,  and  they 
are  prisoners  of  war.  It  was  three  hundred  yards  from 
where  our  left  rested  to  a  woods  in  our  right  rear,  and 
over  the  intervening  ground  played  the  enemy's  with- 
ering cross-fire.  When  we  reached  the  woods,  we  found 
a  supporting  line-of-battle,  ready  to  check  the  foe. 
Those  of  our  men  who  were  yet  unharmed  were  scat- 
tered over  a  long  line,  and  the  officers  devoted  them- 


42  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

selves  most  earnestly  to  the  work  of  rallying  and  bring- 
ing them  together.  About  eighty  were  gotten  together 
in  these  woods,  and  held  ready  for  action,  until  it  be- 
came evident  that  we  could  no  longer  accomplish  any 
thing.  Then  we  were  moved  across  the  pike,  where 
Gen.  McLean  was  gathering  together  the  scattered 
fragments  of  his  brigade.  Gen.  Schenck  had  been 
wounded,  and  had  left  the  field.  Gen.  Milroy  and 
other  commanders  exerted  all  their  powers  to  save  the 
battle  from  becoming  what  the  first  Bull  Run  had  been 
— a  disastrous  rout. 

The  enemy  were  checked  and  held,  while  all  our 
trains  and  artillery,  save  such  guns  as  the  enemy  had 
already  captured,  were  successfully  moved  across  Bull 
Bun,  and  on  to  Centerville.  Night  had  closed  in  on 
the  contestants.  The  sound  of  battle  had  died  in 
the  air,  and  the  enemy  could  fairly  claim  that  the 
day  was  his. 

It  was  about  ten  o'clock  at  night  when  our  brigade 
crossed  Bull  Run  and  Cub  Run,  near  the  latter  of  which 
we  bivouacked  in  the  rain,  and,  early  the  next  morning, 
moved  on  to  Centerville. 

Our  regiment  suffered  most  severely  in  this  battle. 
We  went  into  the  engagement  with  three  hundred  and 
twelve  guns,  and  lost  one  hundred  and  forty-four 
men  killed  and  wounded,  and  twenty  prisoners ;  which 
left  us  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  men  for  duty. 
Among  the  fallen  were  the  brave  and  kind-hearted 
Captain  Burkett,  mortally  wounded,  and  the  gallant 
and  generous  Lieut.  Trimble,  killed,  who,  with  many 
noble  comrades,  were  deeply  mourned  by  the  regiment. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       43 

The  second  Bull  Run  was  a  disastrous  engagement, 
and  evinced  to  the  army  either  a  want  of  skill  in  its 
commander  or  a  want  of  zealous  and  hearty  support  on 
the  part  of  some  of  his  sudordinate  generals.  The 
army  was  indeed  ungenerous  enough  to  attribute  our 
defeat  to  both  these  causes  combined. 

Sunday  morning,  August  30th,  was  rainy  and  dismal. 
Our  army  held  the  line  of  Cub  Run,  and  the  enemy 
made  no  attempt  to  bring  on  another  engagement, 
though  they  felt  our  lines,  and  assured  themselves  of 
our  position.  The  Union  forces  were  disposed  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  be  able  to  meet  any  emergency,  and  the 
army  rested  in  the  rain  from  its  hard  three  days  of  battle. 
All  our  wounded  who  had  been  able  to  get  to  the  rear 
were  now  sent  on  to  Washington  and  Alexandria;  but 
many  of  our  worst  wounded  had  fallen  into  the  enemy's 
hands. 

August  31st,  a  large  detail  of  officers  and  men  was 
sent  to  the  battle-field,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  to  care  for 
our  wounded  and  bury  our  dead.  They  found  our  poor 
fellows  stripped  and  robbed  of  almost  every  thing,  in 
the  most  approved  style  of  Southern  chivalry. 

The  rebel  cavalry  made  a  raid  on  our  trains  near 
Fairfax  Court  House.  They  also  cut  some  bridges  on 
the  railroad,  which  necessitated  the  burning,  it  was  said, 
of  two  millions'  worth  of  supplies  and  material  of  war. 
During  the  afternoon  the  battle  of  Chantilla  was  fought, 
in  which  those  heroic  generals,  Kearney  and  Stephens, 
were  killed. 

The  enemy  seemed  pressing  our  lines  now,  and  mov- 
ing in  force  around  our  right  in  the  direction  of  Lees- 


44  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

burg  and  Aldie,  and  already  preparing  for  a  bold  push 
into  Pennsylvania. 


IN  FRONT  OF  WASHINGTON. 

It  was  dark,  on  the  evening  of  the  31st,  when  our 
brigade  left  Centerville — joining  in  the  general  move- 
ment of  the  army  back  toward  the  defenses  of  Wash- 
ington. The  road  was  crammed  with  trains  and  troops 
all  the  way  back  to  Fairfax.  The  roads  were  almost 
impassable  with  mud.  The  night  was  wet  and  chilly, 
and  as  we  marched  along,  or  stood  waiting  in  the  rain 
and  mud,  it  seemed  the  most  starless  night  of  our  lives. 
Doubtless  defeat  and  anxiety  made  it  still  more  gloomy 
than  nature  intended.  We  marched  only  five  miles 
during  the  entire  night,  and  halted  the  next  morning 
at  Fairfax  Court  House  for  breakfast.  Then  Sigel's 
corps  moved  off  on  the  road  to  New  Vienna,  while  the 
rest  of  the  army  moved  on  toward  Alexandria.  We 
passed  through  New  Vienna,  and  halted  on  the  Lees- 
burg  pike,  six  miles  from  Chain  Bridge,  where  we  re- 
mained four  days  with  only  slight  demonstrations  of 
cavalry  in  our  front. 

Gen.  Lee  is  now  moving  with  energy  toward  Mary- 
land ;  and  our  main  army  is  pouring  through  Washing- 
ton to  check  his  advance.  Gen.  Pope  is  superseded, 
and  Gen.  McClellan  is  appointed  to  command.  The 
Army  of  Virginia  is  merged  into  the  Army  of  the  Po-, 
tomac.  Sigel's  corps  remains  in  front  of  Washington, 
as  a  guard  to  the  capital,  while  the  rest  of  the  army 


SEVENTY-THIRD   OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  45 

moves  into  Maryland.  We  move  from  our  camp  on  the 
Leesburg  pike,  and  stop  for  a  day  at  the  Hall  farm — 
then  on  toward  Alexandria  to  the  Glebe  farm,  near 
Ball's  Cross-roads,  and  only  five  miles  from  "Washing- 
ton :  the  dome  of  the  capital  being  visible  from  our 
camp.  Our  brigade  remained  here  for  ten  days,  and 
then  moved  again  some  three  miles  to  Munson's  Hill, 
near  Falls  Church.  We  encamped  here  during  the  re- 
mainder of  September,  having  a  long  and  much-needed 
rest. 

During  this  time  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and 
Antietam  were  fought,  and  Lee  compelled  to  fall  back 
to  Winchester.  Sigel's  lines  are  again  thrown  forward 
to  Centerville,  at  which  place  our  division  halts  a  few 
days.  Then  McLean's  brigade  makes  a  reconnoisance 
up  the  railroad  to  Bristoe,  Catlet's  and  Warrenton 
Junction.  We  drive  a  small  party  of  rebels  before  us, 
skirmishing  with  them  in  several  places.  We  could  now 
see  what  trains  of  stores  and  supplies  had  been  burned 
during  the  second  Bull  Run  battle,  and  could  easily  be- 
lieve the  story  of  millions  destroyed.  In  four  days  our 
brigade  returned  to  Centerville,  and  went  into  camp 
again.  Here  we  now  awaited  the  movements  of  the 
main  Potomac  army. 

It  was  late  in  October  when  Gen.  McClellan  recrossed 
the  Potomac,  and  came  sweeping  along  the  base  of  the 
Blue  Ridge.  At  every  gap  in  the  mountains  we  could 
hear  his  cannon.  Lee  was  thus  compelled  to  fall  back 
from  Winchester,  and  there  was  promise  of  a  stirring 
campaign. 

The  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  now  transferred  from 


46  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

McLean's  brigade,  and  placed  in  a  new  one,  formed  of 
three  new  regiments,  just  entering  the  field,  and  our 
own.  Our  associated  regiments  were  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-fourth  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty 
sixth  New  York,  and  the  Thirty-third  Massachusetts. 
The  brigade  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Col.  Or- 
land  Smith,  and  was  designated  the  Second  brigade, 
Second  division  of  Sigel's  corps — Gen.  Steinwehr  being 
in  command  of  our  division.  The  Seventy-third  regi- 
ment was  moved  back  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  where 
the  brigade  was  organized. 

On  the  last  day  of  October,  our  regiment  received 
one  hundred  and  twenty  new  recruits  from  Ohio. 

Col.  Smith  being  detailed  to  command  the  brigade, 
Lieut.-Col.  Long  took  command  of  the  regiment. 


ON  THE  WAR-PATH  AGAIN. 

Early  in  November  we  went  forward  again,  passing 
through  Bull  Run  battle-ground,  and  seeing,  for  the 
first  time,  the  shallow  graves  of  our  dead  comrades. 
We  pass  through  Gainesville  and  Haymarket,  to  Car- 
ter's switch,  on  the  Manassas  Gap  road,  two  miles  from 
Thoroughfare  Gap.  McClellan  is  still  moving  up  that 
beautiful  valley  between  the  Catocktin  range  and  the 
Blue  Ridge.  His  cannon  tells  every  day  of  some  ad- 
vance. Lee  is  rapidly  falling  back  to  make  his  commu- 
nications secure.  Our  division  moves  on  to  New  Balti- 
more. McClellan's  advance  is  at  Warrenton  and  Rap- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  47 

pahannock  Station.  The  army  is  in  great  expectation 
that  something  masterly  is  to  be  done.  But  suddenly 
we  are  ordered  back  to  Thoroughfare  Gap,  and  the  word 
comes  to  us  that  McClellan  is  removed  from  command, 
and  so  we  are  to  begin  anew  under  a  new  leader.  The 
army  was  greatly  disheartened  by  this  event,  and  we 
longed  to  be  in  the  West — some  where — any  where,  that 
we  might  be  rescued  from  the  influence  of  Washington 
politicians,  and  allowed  a  fair  chance. 

Gen.  Burnside  is  appointed  to  command  the  arm  y 
and  he  moves  at  once,  with  his  main  force,  down  the 
Rappahannock  toward  Fr»edericksburg,  while  Sigel's 
corps  is  ordered  back  to  Centerville  and  Fairfax. 


FAIRFAX  AND  GERMANTOWN. 

Our  division  went  into  camp  at  Germantown,  near 
Fairfax  Court  House,  where  it  remained  until  winter 
had  fairly  set  in.  About  the  first  of  December  our  reg- 
iment was  ordered  to  Fairfax  station,  four  miles  from 
the  Court  House.  Here  we  went  into  camp  again,  and 
assisted  in  building  an  excellent  road  from  the  station 
to  the  Court  House,  over  which  the  supplies  for  our 
corps  were  to  be  carried. 

We  have  built  us  a  new  camp,  and  are  indulging 
pleasant  thoughts  of  comfortable  winter-quarters,  when 
there  come  rumors  of  a  new  campaign,  and  all  our 
visions  of  winter-quarters  vanish. 


48  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


MARCH  TO  FALMOUTH. 

December  12th,  Sigel's  corps  is  on  the  inarch  to 
Fredericksburg,  to  join  the  main  army,  and  we  take 
our  place  in  the  column  as  it  marches  past  the  Station. 
We  cross  the  Ocoquan  at  Wolf  Run  shoals,  and  pass 
through  a  country  that  is  worn-out,  and  much  of  it 
abandoned  land,  but  which  has  grown  into  beauty,  at 
least,  with  a  fine  growth  of  young  evergreen  and  forest 
trees.  Our  column  halts  for  a  night  and  day  at  Dum* 
fries,  the  ancient  county-seat  of  Prince  William,  but 
now  a  decayed  village,  with  half  a  score  of  old  wooden 
houses.  Yonder,  on  the  hill,  stands  the  old  court  house, 
where  Patrick  Henry  made  some  of  his  most  celebrated 
speeches.  So  we  are  on  historic  ground. 

But  now  the  heavy  boom  of  cannon  in  the  distance, 
tells  us  that  more  eventful  history  is  being  made  by 
our  own  comrades  in  arms.  The  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg  is  in  progress,  and  we  push  forward  again.  We 
rest  for  a  night  near  Stafford  Court  House,  and  then  go 
on  to  Falmouth,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and  a 
mile  above  Fredericksburg. 


BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG. 

When  we  arrived,  there  was  still  desultory  artillery 
firing  across  the  Rappahannock,  and  Gen.  Franklin, 
with  his  grand  division,  was  yet  on  the  other  side  of  the 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  49 

river.  We  expected,  on  our  arrival  to  go  at  once  into 
the  fight,  and,  doubtless,  it  was  at  that  time  intended 
to  give  us  a  share  of  the  work.  We  were,  indeed,  on  the 
next  evening  ordered  forward,  and,  starting  at  dusk, 
marched  until  one  o'clock  at  night,  accomplishing  only 
one  or  two  miles.  Evidently  the  intention  of  renewing 
the  battle  was  abandoned  after  we  were  ordered  from 
our  camp.  About  midnight,  we  were  turned  aside  from 
the  Fredericksburg  road,  and  at  one  o'clock  laid  down 
to  rest. 

That  night  Gen.  Franklin  retired  across  the  river,  and 
the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  was  ended.  The  poorly- 
executed  attack,  the  terrible  slaughter,  and  the  disas- 
trous repulse  have  passed  into  history.  The  loss  of  our 
army  was  very  great;  that  of  the  enemy  very  slight; 
and  yonder,  on  those  hights,  still  flaunts  the  rebel  flag 
and  frown  the  rebel  batteries  before  which  so  many  of 
our  noble  boys  went  down.  Deeper  and  deeper  the 
gloom  gathers  over  us  ;  and  the  brave  old  Army  of  the 
Potomac  seems  doomed  to  failure. 


ENCAMPMENT  NEAR,  FALMOUTH. 

It  is  the  middle  of  December,  and  our  division  is 
ordered  into  camp  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  army,  a 
mile  above  Falmouth,  while  the  rest  of  the  corps  go 
back  to  Stafford  Court  House  and  Brooks'  station. 
Here  we  perform  picket  duty  for  a  month.  Our  brig- 
ade picketed  the  bank  of  the  river  for  the  distance  of  a 
5 


50  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

mile,  near  Banks'  ford.  The  rebel  pickets  are  just  on 
the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  and  they  converse  freely 
across  the  stream.  Some,  indeed,  cross  over  and  ex- 
change courtesies,  and  they  often  meet  on  the  rocks  in 
the  river,  and  exchange  newspapers,  tobacco,  coffee,  etc. 

About  the  middle  of  January  it  was  rumored  that 
another  attempt  was  to  be  made  to  dislodge  the  enemy 
from  his  stronghold  on  the  Hights  of  Fredericksburg. 
Gen.  Burnside  seemed  anxious  to  redeem  the  tremen- 
dous misfortunes  of  the  first  effort.  Accordingly  he 
issued  his  order,  announcing  to  the  army  his  determi- 
nation, and  caused  it  to  be  read  to  every  regiment — 
urging,  along  with  the  announcement,  that  officers  and 
men  should  make  united  exertion  for  the  success  of  this 
second  undertaking.  On  the  same  afternoon  that  the 
order  was  read  we  were  hastily  put  in  light  marching 
order,  and  made  ready  for  the  movement.  There  was 
great  anxiety  throughout  the  army,  but  not  much  hope 
inspired  concerning  this  enterprise. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Gen.  Burnside  to  cross  the 
river,  on  pontoons,  above  the  city,  at  Banks'  or  United 
States  ford,  and  fall  upon  the  left  and  rear  of  the  rebel 
position. 


"BURNSIDE  STUCK  IN  THE  MUD." 

On  the  afternoon  of  January  20th,  the  main  army, 
which  had  been  encamped  at  Belle  Plains,  and  on  the 
plateau  in  front  of  Fridericksburg,  moved  around,  out 
of  rebel  view,  toward  Banks'  ford,  while  those  forces 


SEVENTY-THIED  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  51 

which  had  been  guarding  the  river  moved  in  an  oppo- 
site direction.     Steinwehr's  division  moved  to  a  point 
about  a  mile  below  the  city.     Just  as  we  started,  it  be- 
gan to  rain.     The  day  was  cold   and  chilly,  and  the 
rain,  drizzling  at  first,  but  afterward  pouring,  made  out- 
door life  unattractive.     We  reached  our  position  after 
dark,  and  lay  all  night  in  a  drenching  rain.     We  had 
been  notified  that  an  attack  was  to  be  made  by  the  bat- 
teries in  front  of  the  city  at  six  in  the  morning,  under 
cover  of  which  the  main  army  was   to  cross   the  river 
above  ;  but  six  o'clock  passed  without  firing  a  gun,  and 
it  was  self-evident  that  this  day  was  not  a  desirable  time 
for  crossing  the  swelling  Rappahannock.     The  wagon 
and  pontoon  trains  and  artillery  tried  to  move,  but  the 
roads  were  impracticable.    All  day  it  continued  to  rain. 
The  ardor  of  the  army  became  more  and  more  damp- 
ened as    the  waters  rose   higher   and   the    mud  grew 
deeper;    and,  in  the  afternoon,  the  rebel  pickets  fur- 
nished the  headlines  for  the  Northern  press,  by  posting 
up  placards  opposite  our  picket-posts,  with  "  Burnside 
Stuck  in  the  Mud  !"  in  large  capitals.    They  thus  wrote 
the  history  of  the  expedition ;  for,  after  remaining  out 
in  the  rain  and  mud  two  days,  the  army  moved  back 
into  its  old  quarters,  and  the  movement  was  abandoned. 
Our  division  occupied  its  old  camp,  above  Falmouth, 
and  remained  during  January,  still  filling  its  place  in 
the  picket-line  along  the  Rappahannock.     During  the 
last  days  of  the  month,  our  regiment  built  a  new  and 
beautiful  camp,  still  further  up  the  river.     Hid  away  in 
a  park  of  young  evergreens,  our  village  of  cabins  was  a 
picture  for  an  artist  to  admire.     But  it  was  entirely  too 


52  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

nice.  Every  soldier  knows  that  when  you  get  rsady 
to  stay  in  camp,  you  may  expect  marching  orders  at 
once.  And  so  it  was ;  we  only  got  to  rest  two  nights 
in  our  splendid  winter-quarters. 


MARCH  TO  STAFFORD  COURT  HOUSE. 

We  were  to  rejoin  our  corps  at  Stafford  Court  House. 
Gen.  Burnside  had  been  relieved,  and  Gen.  Hooker 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  the  forces  were  to  be  equipped,  and  somewhat  re- 
organized for  the  spring  campaign.  We  were  moved  to 
a  position  half  way  between  Stafford  Court  House  and 
Brooks'  station,  and  two  miles  from  either.  Here  again 
we  built  us  a  comfortable  camp,  and  went  to  work 
drilling  and  preparing  a  thorough  outfit  and  equipment. 
Gen.  Sigel,  commanding  our  corps,  asked  to  be  relieved, 
and  Gen.  O.  0.  Howard  was  assigned  to  the  place. 

Ours  was  now  the  Eleventh  corps  of  the  Potomac 
army.  Gen.  Barlow  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
our  brigade ;  which  order,  of  course,  returned  Col. 
Smith  to  his  regiment  again.  Gen.  Hooker  gave  his 
attention  at  once  to  a  most  thorough  organization  of  his 
army — feeding,  clothing,  and  equipping  it  also  in  an 
excellent  manner.  During  February,  March  and  April, 
the  work  of  preparation  went  steadily  on. 

President  Lincoln  visited  and  reviewed  the  army  in 
April,  and  evidently  went  back  to  Washington  assured 
that  the  condition  and  morale  of  the  army  was  never 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.        53 

better.  These  reviews  were  grand,  indeed,  and  broke 
the  monotony  of  our  ordinary  camp  life  with  sufficient 
apomp  and  circumstance"  to  make  them  memorable. 
On  the  first  of  these  gala-days,  Gen.  Stoneman's  cav- 
alry (15,000  strong)  and  about  ten  batteries  of  flying 
artillery  passed  in  review  on  the  extensive  plateau 
above  Falrnouth  Station.  On  the  second  day,  five 
corps  of  infantry,  and  all  the  artillery  belonging  to 
these  corps,  were  reviewed.  These  corps  combined 
were  about  60,000  strong,  and  their  review  was  a  mag- 
nificent pageant.  Line  after  line,  and  column  after 
column  stretched  away  over  the  plain ;  and  in  their 
truly  martial  bearing,  gave  one  an  idea  of  the  majesty 
and  power  of  a  mighty  army.  On  the  third  day,  our 
own  corps  and  the  Twelfth,  which  was  also  encamped  on 
the  Stafford  hills,  were  reviewed  by  the  President  and 
Gen.  Hooker. 

And  now,  as  the  spring  and  its  campaign  approached, 
the  prospect  looked  greatly  more  hopeful.  The  Army 
of  the  Potcmac  was  100,000  strong,  and  thoroughly 
equipped.  Only  the  shallow  Rappahannock  lay  be- 
tween it  and  the  army  of  Lee,  and  any  day  might  bring 
on  a  collision,  and  be  rendered  memorable  as  the  battle- 
day  of  the  two  great  armies. 


THE  SPRING  CAMPAIGN. 

The  enemy  seemed   resting  securely  in  his  strong 
position  at  Fredericksburg  Hights.     He  threw  out  a 


54  JOURNAL- HISTORY  OF  THE 

strong  picket,  however,  both  up  and  down  the  river, 
apparently  uncertain  which  route  Gen.  Hooker  would 
take,  in  the  event  of  his  crossing. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  our  corps  broke  camp  at  Staf- 
ford, and  moved,  by  way  of  Hartwood  Church,  to  Kel- 
ley's  ford — a  point  about  twenty-five  miles  above  Fred- 
ericksburg,  and  ten  miles  above  the  confluence  of  the 
Rappahannock  and  the  Rapidan.  We  found  the 
Twelfth  and  Fifth  corps  moving  for  the  same  point, 
and  at  once  understood  that  the  grand  campaign  had 
begun.  We  reached  Kelly's  ford  about  noon  of  the 
28th ;  and  a  little  after  dark,  our  corps  commenced 
crossing  the  river.  Gens.  Slocum  and  Meade  followed, 
and  by  nine  o'clock  of  the  29th,  our  whole  force  was 
safely  across  the  Rappahannock.  The  Fifth  corps 
marched  thence,  by  way  of  Ely's  ford,  on  the  Rapidan ; 
while  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  corps  marched  by  way 
of  Germanna  mills. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  Gen.  Stuart,  with  2,000  cav- 
alry, fell  upon  our  flank,  and  captured  a  few  prisoners. 
He  threw  some  shells  into  our  marching  column.  Our 
regiment  formed  line-of-battle,  and  guarded  the  rear  of 
the  column  as  it  passed.  Our  corps  rested  near,  and 
the  Twelfth  at,  Germanna  mills.  We  crossed  the  Rapi- 
dan next  morning,  and  at  noon  advanced  on  the  Fred- 
ericksburg  plank  road,  and,  passing  through  the  Wil- 
derness, arrived,  after  dark,  within  two  miles  of  Chan- 
cellorsville,  where  we  halted  and  encamped. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  55 


BATTLE  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

In  the  afternoon,  Gen.  Hooker's  order  was  read  to 
the  troops,  congratulating  our  corps  upon  their  successful 
flank  movement,  and  saying  that  the  enemy  must  now 
"ingloriously  fly,  or  give  us  battle  on  our  own  ground, 
where  certain  destruction  awaits  him."  We  rested  un- 
disturbed that  night,  and  until  noon  of  the  next  day, 
when  the  brigade  was  called  into  line  along  the  plank 
road.  Skirmishing  was  brisk  in  our  front,  and  espe- 
cially heavy  in  our  left  front.  We  went  to  work,  in  the 
evening,  making  rifle-pits,  parallel  to  and  across  the 
plank  road.  Gen.  Sickles,  with  the  Third  corps,  had 
crossed  the  river  at  United  States  ford,  and  the  head 
of  his  column  met  and  connected  with  ours  at  Chan- 
cellorsville. 

On  Saturday  morning,  May  2d,  as  we  lay  along  the 
plank  road,  awaiting  the  events  of  the  day,  Gen.  Hooker 
passed  along  the  lines,  and  was  hailed  with  such  enthu- 
siasm as  we  never  witnessed  before.  All  along  the  line 
flags  waved,  bands  played,  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
soldiers  sent  up  their  shouts  of  earnest  greeting  that 
made  the  very  heavens  ring.  It  was  all  impromptu — 
all  spontaneous,  all  honest,  hearty,  hopeful  cheer. 
"Fighting  Joe  Hooker"  was  the  leader  of  as  proud  an 
hundred  thousand  men  as  ever  stood  to  arms;  and  as 
he  rode  along  the  lines  where  their  bayonets  gleamed 
in  the  morning  sunlight,  with  the  full  enthusiasm  of 
their  patriotic  pride,  those  veteran  thousands  shouted 
their  hearty  Hail !  and  Huzzah  ! 


56  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

We  were  advised  that  the  enemy  were  passing  along 
our  front  toward  our  right,  and  Gen.  Howard  was 
ordered  by  Gen.  Hooker  to  mass  his  corps  so  as  to 
protect  the  right  flank;  nevertheless,  no  dispositions 
whatever  were  made  to  meet  an  enemy  coming  from 
that  direction.  The  pickets,  the  scouts  and  the  officer 
of  the  day,  all  reported  to  Gen.  Devens,  commanding 
the  division  on  the  right  of  the  corps,  that  the  enemy 
was  massing  on  that  flank.  But  Gen.  Devens  was  not 
in  a  condition  to  appreciate  the  situation.  He.,  how- 
ever, rebuked  and  insulted  his  informants  for  bringing 
such  reports.  Afterward  these  men  were  denounced  as 
"cowards,"  while  the  newspapers  said  "the  brave 
Devens  was  again  wounded  in  the  foot."  The  truth 
was  that  neither  the  commander  of  the  corps  nor  of  the 
respective  divisions  whose  duty  it  was  to  guard  the  flank 
had  made  any  preparation  to  meet  the  enemy  in  that 
direction ;  and  the  attack  of  his  massed  column  of 
20,000  was  a  surprise  from  which  the  men  could  not 
recover— a  shock  which  they  could  not  resist. 

Just  after  noon,  Gen.  Birney,  who  commanded  a 
division  in  the  Third  corps,  pushed  out  in  our  left  front 
— skirmished  with  and  drove  before  him  a  force  of  the 
enemy.  Following  them  up,  he  soon  found  himself  in 
front  of  our  corps.  He  now  sent  a  request  to  Gen. 
Howard  to  send  him  a  brigade  as  a  support.  Gen. 
Howard  ordered  Gen.  Barlow  to  report  with  his  brigade 
to  Gen.  Birney ;  and,  about  two  o'clock,  the  brigade 
stacked  knapsacks,  and  moved  out  to  the  front.  Gen. 
Birney  surrounded  and  captured  an  entire  rebel  regi- 
ment, and  pushed  on  out  some  five  miles  to  the  front. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       57 

He  encountered  no  considerable  force,  however;  and 
late  in  the  evening,  the  entire  expedition  started  to  re- 
turn. We  had  heard  considerable  firing  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  afternoon  ;  but  not  until  we  were  half 
way  back  were  we  advised  of  the  disaster  which  had 
fallen  upon  our  corps.  Then  we  learned  that,  about 
five  o'clock,  Stonewall  Jackson,  with  a  force  of  20,000 
men,  that  had  been  massed  in  the  woods  within  a  few 
hundred  yards  of  the  camps  of  Gens.  Devens  and  Shurz, 
suddenly  moved  upon  them  in  five  massed  columns, 
striking  their  right  flank  and  right  rear — surprising  and 
driving  them  before  him  in  panic  and  confusion ;  that 
the  troops  thus  surprised,  most  of  whom  were  Germans, 
broke  and  gave  way,  in  many  instances  without  at- 
tempting resistance  to  the  rebel  advance;  and  that  the 
regiments  and  brigades  that  did  try  to  stand,  were 
driven  back  with  terrible  loss — McLean's  and  Bush- 
beck's  brigades  being  literally  cut  to  pieces.  This  dis- 
graceful surprise  of  the  Eleventh  corps  was  all  charged, 
by  popular  clamor,  to  the  cowardice  of  the  men;  but  it 
is  evident  that  no  corps  in  our  army  could  have  with- 
stood such  a  shock  if  they  had  been  allowed  to  be 
surprised  and  panic-stricken,  as  were  these.  And  to 
the  officers  mainly,  who  failed  to  give  attention  to  our 
flank,  this  disaster  was  justly  chargeable. 

Gen.  Barlow,  finding  that  the  enemy  had  possession 
of  the  ground  where  the  brigade  had  stacked  knapsacks, 
turned  to  the  right,  and  marched  toward  Chancellors- 
ville,  halting  within  a  mile  of  that  place,  and  resting 
on  arms  for  the  night. 

The  enemy  (after  possessing  himself  of  all  the  ground 
6 


58  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

held  by  the  Eleventh  corps,  and  a  part  of  that  at  one 
time  held  by  the  Twelfth)  halted,  and  Gen.  Jackson 
prepared  for  another  onset.  This  brought  them  into 
the  night,  and,  about  nine  o'clock,  a  rebel  brigade  ad- 
vanced against  our  lines  north  of  the  plank  road.  But 
a  well-directed  fire  from  Sickles'  line  and  a  few  volleys 
from  our  batteries  on  the  hill  sent  them  back  again. 

On  the  high,  open  ground  in  front  of  "Chancellor 
House"  had  been  planted  thirty-six  guns,  all  looking 
down  the  plank  road,  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy. 
To  s^eize  this  important  key,  and,  if  possible,  capture 
our  cannon,  seems  to  have  been  Jackson's  ambition ; 
and  a  little  before  midnight,  his  force  was  massed  in  the 
woods  south  of  the  plank  road,  and  with  a  front  of  bat- 
tle a  third  of  a  mile  long,  and  his  left  touching  the  road, 
he  advanced  to  the  open  ground  commanded  by  our 
batteries. 

As  his  line  emerged  from  the  woods,  our  skirmishers 
opened  upon  them,  and,  in  a  moment,  as  if  by  one  com- 
mand, Jackson's  entire  line  was  one  mighty  line  of  fire. 
Then  our  infantry  on  the  hill-side  poured  in  a  telling 
response,  and  for  a  moment  the  roar  of  musketry  was 
deafening  and  terrible,  and  then  above  it  rose  "clearer 
and  deadlier"  the  thunder  of  our  splendid  batteries  on 
the  hill.  A  semi-circle  of  flame  lit  up  the  field.  The 
air  was  thick  with  missiles  of  death,  that  went  shriek- 
ing and  screaming  over  the  heads  of  our  comrades  and 
into  the  enemy's  masses;  and  for  half  an  hour  the 
heavens  fairly  glowed  with  flaming  cannon  and  bursting 
shell,  and  the  flash  of  ten  thousand  muskets.  Dark 
clouds  of  smoke  gathered  over  the  field,  and,  lit  up 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  REGIMENT.  59 

with  the  lurid  flame  of  battle,  made  the  scene  terribly, 
awfully  grand.  We  trembled  for  a  moment  to  think  of 
the  possibility  of  success  to  the  foe ;  but  our  hearts 
grew  calm  and  confident  again,  when  we  saw  them 
driven  back  in  disorder  by  the  terrible  fire  of  our  ar- 
tillery and  infantry. 

In  this  midnight  attack,  the  rebels  lost  their  impetu- 
ous leader — Stonewall  Jackson  —  who  fell  mortally 
wounded. 

At  daylight,  on  Sunday  morning,  May  3d,  our  brig- 
ade moved  on  to  the  Chancellor  House,  and  beyond. 
Fresh  troops  were  coming  in  to  strengthen  the  lines 
south  of  the  plank  road,  and  skirmishing  had  already 
begun.  Barlow's  brigade  was  moved  to  a  position 
about  a  mile  from  Chancellorsville,  on  the  right-hand 
road  to  the  United  States  Ford.  During  the  night  two 
lines  had  been  formed  from  Chancellorsville  to  the  ford, 
forming  a  kind  of  ellipse,  and  inclosing  an  area  five 
miles  long  and  one  or  two  miles  wide.  Temporary 
works  had  been  and  were  yet  being  constructed  along 
these  lines ;  and  six  corps  were  so  disposed  as  to  pre- 
sent a  formidable  front  to  the  enemy,  come  from  what- 
ever direction  he  might. 

We  had  but  a  small  semi-circle  left  to  us  across  the 
plank  road,  simply  inclosing  the  open  ground  in  front 
of  the  Chancellor  House.  This  was  held  by  the  Twelfth 
corps,  while  the  Third  and  Fifth  held  to  the  right  of 
this  in  the  direction  of  the  Wilderness.  The  enemy 
commenced  the  attack  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
His  attacks  were  directed  against  our  lines  across  the 
plank  road,  and  west  to  the  Ely's  Ford  road,  where  his 


60  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

forces  were  massed  in  the  dense  woods  which  extend 
for  miles  toward  the  Wilderness.  Six  hundred  yards 
in  rear  of  the  Mansion  House,  our  batteries  were 
massed  in  a  commanding  position.  And  now  began 
one  of  the  most  determined  and  hotly-contested  en- 
gagements known  during  the  war.  For  four  long  hours 
there  was  one  incessant  roar  of  cannon  and  small  arms, 
along  a  semi- circular  front  of  battle  a  mile  and  a  half 
in  extent.  The  conflict  was  desperate  and  deadly. 
The  enemy  fought  mainly  under  cover  of  the  woods, 
but  could  use  no  cannon  with  effect ;  while  our  forces 
were  partly  sheltered,  and  our  cannon,  advantageously 
posted,  sent  death  into  the  enemy's  ranks.  On  the 
right,  the  tide  of  battle  swayed  back  and  forward  again 
and  again ;  the  ground,  in  some  places,  being  fought 
over  half  a  dozen  times.  But  across  the  plank  road  the 
enemy  pushed  steadily  and  boldly  forward,  until,  by 
eleven  o'clock,  the  Twelfth  corps  had  been  compelled 
to  yield  all  the  ground  beyond  the  Mansion  House 
and  the  road.  About  eleven  o'clock  the  firing  slack- 
ened, and  by  noon  had  almost  entirely  ceased. 

During  the  afternoon  there  was  not  much  severe 
fighting.  At  times  the  fires  would  burst  out  with  great 
energy,  and  we  would  think  another  general  engage- 
ment was  begun.  Then  it  would  subside  into  an  irreg- 
lar  skirmish  fire,  or  cease  altogether.  It  was  during 
one  of  these  outbursts  that  our  brigade  was  brought  for- 
ward to  be  thrown  into  the  fight.  We  were  massed  in 
rear  of  the  batteries,  and  awaited  for  an  hour  the  op- 
portunity or  the  necessity  to  use  our  bayonets;  but 
the  enemy  did  not  press  our  lines,  and  our  bayonets 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       61 

were  not  needed.  Hence  we  were  only  engaged  in  skir- 
mishing during  the  day,  and  even  that  was  light. 

On  the  next  day  there  was  occasional  skirmishing 
along  the  lines ;  but  the  enemy  did  not  again  attack 
us.  There  lay  six  corps  of  our  army  behind  eight  or 
ten  miles  of  breastworks,  perfectly  secure  in  their  posi- 
tion ;  and,  so  far  as  we  knew,  not  only  amply  able  to 
hold  it,  but  also  able  to  abandon  it,  and,  taking  the 
offensive,  move  successfully  on  the  enemy. 

Tuesday  was  but  a  repetition  of  Monday ;  and  Wed- 
nesday was  a  triplicate  of  the  same.  During  all  these 
days  we  lay  behind  our  works  or  on  our  arms,  ready 
for  work  at  a  moment's  warning.  Everybody  won- 
dered why  we  did  not  do  something,  and  everybody 
wondered  what  was  the  best  thing  to  do  ;  and  so,  in  sus- 
pense and  anxiety,  the  days  went  by. 


BACK  TO  THE  HILLS  OF  STAFFORD. 

On  Wednesday  night,  we  were  ordered  to  be  ready 
to  move,  and  during  that  night  and  the  next  morning, 
the  whole  army  retired  across  the  Rappahannock.  Why 
we  were  falling  back,  nobody  knew.  We  had  lost  but  a 
few  thousand  men ;  we  had  yet  nearly  a  hundred  thou- 
sand, intrenched  in  a  strong  position,  with  a  base  on 
the  river,  where  two  or  three  pontoons  connected  us 
with  our  supplies.  Two-thirds  of  our  army  had  not 
participated  in  the  fight  at  all ;  and  if  it  had  been  policy 


62  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

to  cross  the  Rappahannock  in  the  first  place,  we  could 
see  no  reason  for  going  back. 

Most  of  the  army  moved  into  their  old  encampments; 
and  for  a  few  weeks  we  seemed  to  wait  for  something 
to  turn  up.  We  had  a  month  of  very  pleasant  spring 
life  in  our  camp  among  the  pine  hills  of  Stafford.  Gen. 
Barlow  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  First 
division  of  our  corps,  and  Col.  Smith  was  again  detailed 
to  command  our  brigade.  The  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-fourth  New  York  volunteers  was  transferred 
from  the  brigade,  and  the  Fifty-fifth  Ohio  was  assigned 
to  it.  We  were  glad  to  welcome  into  our  brigade  this 
gallant  regiment  of  Ohio  men.  We  had  been  associ- 
ated with  them  before  in  the  old  Ohio  brigade,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  McLean.  We  knew  their  soldierly 
bearing  and  character,  and  that,  in  the  hour  of  trial, 
there  were  none  more  brave  and  true. 

Early  in  June,  there  were  rumors  of  a  movement  of 
the  rebel  army  across  the  Rappahannock.  A  force  of 
cavalry  and  infantry  was  sent  to  watch  their  movements 
and  unmask  their  designs.  This  reconnoisance  resulted 
in  an  engagement  at  Beverly  Ford,  where  our  cavalry 
first  began  to  give  evidence  of  spirit  and  valor.  Infor- 
mation was  also  gained  that  the  enemy  was  moving  in 
force  toward  the  Shenandoah  valley,  with  the  probable 
intention  of  a  campaign  northward.  It  was  thus  made 
necessary  for  Gen.  Hooker  to  put  his  army  in  motion. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  63 


THE  MARCH  INTO  MARYLAND  AND  PENNSYLVANIA. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  we  received  orders  to  march, 
and,  with  light  hearts,  filed  out  of  camp.  Our  corps 
marched  by  Hartwood  Church  to  Catlet's  Station.  The 
army  was  now  maintaining  a  defensive  line  from  the 
Rappahannock  Station  to  Centerville.  On  the  14th, 
we  marched  to  Manassas,  and  the  next  day  on  to  Cen- 
terville. Here  we  received  fuller  information  of  the 
rebel  raid.  Their  cavalry  had  already  reached  Penn- 
sylvania. 

On  the  17th,  we  moved  by  Gum  Spring  to  Goose 
Creek,  six  miles  from  Leesburg.  The  whole  army  was 
coming  forward.  We  stopped  at  Goose  Creek  for  a 
week,  waiting  for  the  plans  and  purposes  of  Gen.  Lee 
to  develop.  June  24th,  our  march  was  resumed,  and 
that  night  we  rested  at  Edward's  Ferry,  on  the  Potomac. 
Next  morning  we  crossed  the  river  on  a  pontoon  bridge, 
and  pushed  rapidly  forward.  We  passed  Point  of  Rocks, 
crossed  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  and  the  Mono- 
cacy  river,  marching  through  rain  and  mud,  and  halt- 
ing, just  before  midnight,  near  the  village  of  Jefferson, 
only  to  lie  down  in  the  mud,  and  try  to  sleep  in  the 
drenching  rain.  On  the  following  day,  we  moved  on 
through  Middleton.  The  early  harvest  was  just  ripen- 
ing, and  the  country  was  beautiful  as  a  garden.  The 
South  Mountains  rose  up  grandly  before  us;  and  the 
splendid  farming  lands  through  which  we  passed  seemed 
to  us  the  finest  we  had  ever  seen.  Many  citizens  of 
Maryland  seemed  sullen  and  indifferent ;  but  some  were 


64  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

glad,  and  gave  us  earnest  welcome.  At  Middleton, 
however,  we  were  received  with  the  heartiest  demon- 
strations of  joy.  And  when  we  compared  the  deso- 
late fields  of  Virginia,  from  which  we  had  just  come, 
with  this  rich  and  teeming  land,  full  of  wealth,  beauty 
and  comfort,  truly  it  seemed  we  had  found  "  God's 
country"  again. 

Our  corps  went  into  camp  between  Middleton  and 
South  Mountain  Pass.  There  were  some  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  neighborhood  of  our  camp  whose  sympa- 
thies ran  like  the  Kittocktin — Southward.  Our  boys 
did  not  have  any  extra  respect  for  these  Maryland 
rebels,  who  treated  the  "Lincolnites"  with  sullen  inso- 
lence, and  charged  a  double  price  for  every  thing  they 
sold  to  our  men ;  and  from  this  cause,  doubtless,  arose 
the  rumor  that  their  chickens  rested  poorly  of  nights 
and  their  early  potatoes  were  not  likely  to  take  the 
second  growth.  After  a  day's  rest,  we  climbed  the 
mountain,  and  encamped  at  what  was  called  the  South 
Mountain  Pass.  From  this  mountain  summit,  we  had 
a  splendid  view  of  the  rich,  low-lying  country  for  forty 
miles  to  the  westward.  There  ran  the  Antietam — now 
become  historic  ;  there  lay  Boonsboro',  and  Keedysville, 
and  Sharpsburg  :  and  the  whole  country  from  Harper's 
Ferry  to  Hagerstown  spread  like  a  map  before  us,  beau- 
tifully colored  with  the  green  of  the  growing  corn,  and 
the  gold  of  the  ripening  harvest. 

The  enemy  was  now  passing  through  Hagarstown, 
toward  Chambersburg,  and  evidently  had  Baltimore  in 
view  as  an  objective  point. 

On  the  evening  of  June  28th,  our  corps  marched  back 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  65 

through  Middleton  to  Frederick  City,  where  we  slept 
till  daylight  of  the  29th,  and  again  pushed  forward,  ar- 
riving at  Emmittsburg  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
having  marched  thirty-eight  miles  in  twenty-four  hours, 
carrying  knapsacks,  blankets,  sixty  rounds  of  ammuni- 
tion, and  three  days'  rations.  This  march,  which,  for 
rapidity,  has  rarely  been  excelled  during  the  war,  led 
us  through  a  very  rich  farming  district.  But  the  citi- 
zens seemed  wonderfully  indifferent  to  the  danger 
threatened  by  an  invading  army.  They  only  exhibited 
curiosity  and  wonder  at  seeing  so  many  soldiers;  and, 
from  their  remarks,  evidently  thought  our  force  was 
abundantly  able  to  annihilate  the  rest  of  the  human 
family.  We  expected  to  see  them  rising  as  one  man, 
and  rushing  to  arms  to  defend  their  homes.  We  only 
saw  them  rush  to  the  fields  with  scythe,  and  reaper,  and 
leave  the  work  of  driving  back  the  foe  all  undivided  to 
ourselves. 

We  remained  a  day  at  Emmittsburg,  and,  on  the 
morning  of  July  1st,  moved  toward  Gettysburg.  We 
had  just  crossed  the  line  into  Pennsylvania,  when, 
about  ten  o'clock,  we  heard  the  firing  of  cannon  ahead. 
Citizens  told  us  the  firing  was  a  mile  or  two  beyond 
the  town.  \Ve  were  hurried  forward  almost  on  the 
double-quick.  The  men  suffered  terribly  from  thirst 
and  heat;  but  still  we  were  urged  forward,  and  we 
knew  there  was  imminency  of  disaster  at  the  front. 
Just  before  noon,  our  division  reached  Cemetery  Hill, 
and  at  a  glance  discovered  the  enemy  advancing,  two 
miles  in  our  front,  while  our  own  troops  were  slowly 
falling  back  on  the  town  of  Gettysburg. 


66  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


THE  BATTLE  OP  GETTYSBURG. 

It  was  just  as  -we  reached  Cemetery  Hill,  and  while 
the  engagement  was  going  on  in  our  front,  that  we 
learned  of  the  removal  of  Gen.  Hooker,  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  Gen.  Meade  to  command  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  Of  course,  it  seemed  to  us  unfortunate 
that  a  change  so  sudden  and  unexpected  should  have 
occurred  at  a  time  so  critical.  Still,  it  was  impossible 
for  us  to  know  the  motives  that  induced,  or  the  circum- 
stances that  demanded  such  a  change.  We  learned, 
also,  that  Gen.  Reynolds,  commanding  the  First  corps, 
had  been  killed  in  the  engagement  of  the  morning ; 
that,  though  he  had  gained  temporary  advantages  early 
in  the  contest,  he  had  ultimately  been  outnumbered,  and 
his  corps  driven  back  with  loss. 

The  First  and  Third  divisions  of  our  corps  were  hur- 
ried through  the  town,  and  at  once  thrown  into  the 
fight  to  check  the  rebel  advance;  and  Gen.  Howard  as- 
sumed command  of  the  field,  Gen.  Meade  not  having 
yet  arrived.  Steinwehr's  division  rested  for  a  little 
while  in  the  quiet  cemetery  on  the  hill,  where  the  vil- 
lagers of  Gettysburg  had  buried  their  dead,  and  adorned 
their  resting  places  with  tasteful  memorials.  It  was  a 
solemn  place  to  rest  and  reflect  before  going  into 
battle.  Soon,  however,  we  were  ordered  into  line 
on  the  right  of  the  town,  across  and  parallel  with  the 
Baltimore  turnpike.  We  threw  down  the  fences,  and 
took  position,  our  division  being  so  disposed  as  to  hold 
Cemetery  Hill  in  case  of  any  further  reverses  at  the 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  67 

front.  Here  we  lay  until  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  when  our  brigade  was  relieved  by  other 
troops ;  and  again  we  were  massed  on  the  hill. 

The  contest  was  now  raging  anew  in  the  front  of  the 
town ;  and  our  men  were  forced  to  retire  from  that  po- 
sition, which  they  did  in  tolerable  order,  but  not  until 
we  had  lost  heavily  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 
By  this  time,  other  troops  began  to  arrive  on  the  field. 
It  was  a  critical  moment,  however,  and  had  the  enemy 
made  a  bold  dash,  it  had  been  difficult  for  us  to  hold 
the  hill.  The  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  massed  for 
awhile  in  front  of  our  batteries,  on  the  left  of  the  pike, 
and  here  received  the  first  stray  shots  from  the  enemy, 
one  or  two  of  our  men  being  wounded.  The  First 
corps,  and  the  two  divisions  of  our  corps  that  had  been 
in  the  fight,  came  pouring  back  through  the  town,  and 
were  rapidly  disposed  so  as  to  hold  the  Cemetery  Hill. 

Other  troops  arriving,  extended  our  lines  right  and 
left,  while  our  corps  circled  around  the  point  of  the 
hill  next  to  the  town.  Our  lines  of  battle  now  ran 
along  the  Taneytown  road,  facing  north,  and  along 
and  in  front  of  the  Baltimore  turnpike,  facing  east, — 
the  two  lines  meeting  at  nearly  a  right-angle  at  the 
edge  of  the  town,  and  inclosing  the  Cemetery  Hill,  on 
which  our  cannon  was  massed. 

It  seemed  to  us  unfortunate  that  the  town  was  given 
up  to  the  ememy,  for  it  was  at  once  filled  with  rebel 
sharp-shooters,  and  their  work  of  death  was  begun. 

When  our  forces  had  entirely  withdrawn  from  the 
town,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio,  with  a  portion  of  the 
brigade,  was  again  sent  across  the  turnpike,  and  took 


68  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

position  forward  in  the  angle  of  our  lines,  and  but  a 
few  yards  from  that  part  of  the  village  nearest  the  hill. 
A  few  shots  were  exchanged  with  the  rebel  sharp- 
shooters, two  men  of  our  regiment  being  wounded.  At 
ten  o'clock  at  night,  we  were  again  relieved,  and  re- 
tired to  the  hill,  where  we  lay  down  and  slept  heavily 
after  the  fatigue  of  the  day.  We  lay  on  the  grass, 
among  the  neatly-trimmed  graves;  and  some,  with  no 
irreverence,  rested  their  heads  on  the  green  hillocks 
for  pillows,  and  slept  without  a  superstitious  dream,  but 
with  the  assurance  that  to-morrow's  sun  would  bring 
earnest  and  bloody  work. 

At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  2d,  our  regi- 
ment was  wakened  up,  and  at  once  moved  into  a  posi- 
tion in  an  orchard  that  skirted  the  town,  and  fronting 
on  the  Taneytown  road.  After  daylight,  the  battalion 
was  deployed  along  this  road,  with  only  the  Fifty-fifth 
Ohio  between  us  and  the  village.  Our  skirmishers  were 
thrown  forward  beyond  the  Emmittsburg  road,  and  we 
understood  that  to  our  division  was  assigned  the  work 
of  holding  this  central  ground, — this  vital  point  in  our 
grand  line  of  battle, — and  guarding  the  batteries  on  the 
hill.  How  well  we  did  it,  let  history  tell. 

During  the  night,  the  other  corps  of  the  army  ar- 
rived and  were  disposed  for  battle  in  the  following  or- 
der :  Slocum's  Twelfth  corps,  on  the  right ;  Hancock's 
Second  corps,  on  our  left;  with  Sickles'  Third  corps 
still  farther  to  the  left ;  and  extending  our  line  of  bat- 
tle beyond  the  Roundtop  Mountain,  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  village.  The  remaining  troops  were  held  in 
reserve,  or  disposed  as  they  were  needed  in  the  front 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       69 

line  of  battle.  There  was  an  ominous  silence  during 
the  forenoon,  an  occasional  gun  or  a  dash  of  skirmish- 
ers ;  but  we  all  knew  that  the  storm  would  come,  and 
our  generals  prepared  to  meet  it. 

About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries opened  on  our  position,  and  were  immediately 
replied  to  by  our  own  guns,  commandingly  planted  on 
Cemetery  Hill  in  the  center,  Slocum's  Hill  on  the  right, 
and  Roundtop  Mountain  on  the  left.  And  now  raged 
for  two  hours  the  most  terrific  cannonade  to  which  we 
had  ever  listened.  The  fire  of  the  rebel  batteries  con- 
verged on  Cemetery  Hill ;  they  were  arranged  in  a 
semi-circular  line  of  battle,  inclosing  like  a  sack  our 
own  lines ;  their  fire  was  not  very  accurate,  but  their 
shot  and  shell  fell  upon  the  hill  like  hail.  The  stone 
fence,  behind  which  we  had  a  partial  shelter  from  their 
skirmish  fire,  was  little  protection  now.  Indeed, 
the  cross-fire  of  the  rebel  batteries  in  front  of  the 
Twelfth  corps  became  so  heavy,  and  got  range  of  us  so 
well,  as  to  induce  a  change  of  our  battalion  to  the 
front  side  of  the  wall.  Still,  there  were  few  of  our 
men  injured  by  this  heavy  cannonade,  in  which  from 
one  hundred  to-  one  hundred  and  sixty  guns  were  used 
on  each  side. 

Finally,  the  artillery  chorus  ceased  on  their  part,  and 
their  infantry  was  sent  forward.  They  had  massed  on 
our  left,  and  the  blow  fell  there  first ;  but  the  brave 
boys  of  the  Third  corps  stood  like  a  wall  of  fire  against 
their  advance.  There  was  fearful  work  on  the  left ; 
the  roll  of  musketry  was  almost  deafening.  Then  the 
tide  of  battle  surged  toward  the  center,  and  fell  upon 


70  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Hancock's  corps ;  but  there  too  the  foe  was  met  with 
veteran  firmness.  Still,  the  struggle  all  along  our  left 
and  left  center  was  desperate  and  deadly ;  on  both 
sides  there  was  advancing  and  retiring,  charging  and 
recharging  ;  and  the  murderous  fire  of  the  rebel  small 
arms,  and  of  musketry  with  cannon  on  our  side,  cov- 
ered the  field  with  the  wounded  and  slain.  Finally,  the 
impetuous  charge  of  fresh  troops  broke  the  rebel  lines, 
captured  thousands  of  prisoners,  and  drove  the  remnant 
of  their  charging  column  back  over  the  bloody  field. 

The  fire  now  became  heavier  in  our  immediate  front. 
Their  skirmishers  had  been  heavily  reinforced.  They 
had  gained  a  fence  on  a  low-lying  ridge,  from  which 
they  could  not  only  annoy  our  skirmish  and  battle  lines, 
but  also  our  gunners  on  the  hill.  It  became  necessary 
to  drive  them  back,  in  order  to  protect  our  batteries. 
Accordingly,  our  whole  brigade  line  of  skirmishers 
charged  and  drove  them  from  the  ridge ;  but,  going  too 
far,  and  the  enemy  being  reinforced,  they  in  turn, 
charged  and  drove  back  our  line  again,  with  heavy 
loss.  From  this  time  until  the  close  of  the  battle,  there 
was  a  most  cruel  fire  of  skirmishers  and  sharp-shooters 
all  along  the  center.  It  sometimes  amounted  almost  to 
the  fire  of  a  line  of  battle,  and  was  especially  deadly 
from  its  deliberateness  of  aim. 

About  sunset,  a  heavy  infantry  fire  opened  on  the 
right,  in  front  of  Slocum's  corps.  The  enemy  had 
massed  there  too,  and  pushed  forward  now  with  des- 
perate energy  to  overpower  and  turn  our  right.  The 
deep  and  solemn  roll  of  thirty  thousand  muskets,  told 
how  earnest  and  deadly  was  the  strife.  The  enemy 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  71 

pushed  forward,  slowly  but  steadily  gaining  ground. 
Back  toward  the  turnpike  were  pressed  the  hard-fight- 
ing battalions  of  the  Twelfth  corps,  still  disputing  every 
inch  of  ground  with  a  courage  and  tenacity  that  told 
how  well  they  knew  its  worth.  Nor  had  the  enemy 
abandoned  his  work  upon  our  left.  Far  out  upon  that 
flank  he  was  pushing  his  columns,  and  fighting  to  gain 
position. 

Darkness  closed  in  upon  the  armies,  still  struggling 
in  the  fierce  and  bloody  grasp  of  battle.  The  enemy 
put  forth  almost  superhuman  exertions  to  drive  back 
the  right  and  left  wings  of  our  army,  and  meet  in  our 
rear.  At  one  time,  our  right  was  driven  back  to,  and 
partly  across  the  turnpike.  Their  cannon-range  already 
spanned  the  ground,  and  the  shot  and  shell  from  their 
batteries  in  front  of  Slocum  and  Sickles  met  in  rear  of 
Cemetery  Hill,  overlapping  more  and  more  as  our  right 
was  borne  backward. 

Sometime  after  dark,  the  fire  on  our  left  ceased  ;  but 
still  the  dreadful  carnage  on  our  right  went  on.  On 
into  the  night  flashed  those  thirty  thousand  muskets, 
only  lessening  in  number  as  brave  men  bit  the  dust. 
About  nine  o'clock,  our  right  made  a  stand,  from  which 
it  could  not  be  driven.  In  turn  the  enemy  was  now 
driven  back,  and  most  of  the  ground  we  had  lost  was 
regained.  Gradually  the  fire  on  both  sides  abated, 
and  our  hearts  were  lifted  up  with  the  hope  of  victory, 
as  another  day's  battle  closed,  leaving  us  in  possession 
of  the  field. 

We  began  to  wrap  our  blankets  around  us  and  think 
of  snatching  a  little  rest ;  still,  however,  in  line  of  bat- 


72  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

tie,  and  each  man  grasping  his  gun.  Suddenly  we 
heard  firing  close  to  the  town,  just  at  the  point  of  the 
hill  in  front  of  our  batteries,  across  the  turnpike.  A 
hurried  movement  of  troops  in  that  direction,  and  a 
lively  fire  of  small  arms,  gave  indication  of  serious 
work.  A  division  of  rebel  infantry  had  been  massed 
close  up  to  our  line,  just  at  the  edge  of  the  town ;  and 
just  as  our  men  were  preparing  to  rest  on  arms,  and 
about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  this  division  charged  the 
hill  in  massed  column,  and  without  waiting  to  contest 
the  ground  with  our  first  line  of  battle,  went  through  that 
line,  charged  right  on,  up  to  our  batteries,  and  even 
got  possession  of  one  or  two  guns.  The  cannoniers  de- 
fended their  pieces  bravely  with  pistols,  sabers,  stones, 
etc.;  and  one  man  at  least  killed  his  assailant  with  a 
spunge-staiF.  It  was  a  short  but  daring  hand-to-hand 
contest,  and  the  enemy  had  well-nigh  gotten  a  foot- 
hold on  the  hill,  when  reinforcements  reached  the 
ground,  retook  the  guns,  charged  the  rebels  vigorously, 
driving  them  back  in  confusion,  and  capturing  many 
prisoners.  This  bold  charge  on  our  right  center  ended 
the  conflict  for  the  night,  and  both  armies  rested,  to 
gather  strength  for  the  next  day's  battle. 

During  the  night,  we  could  hear  the  cries  of  hun- 
dreds of  wounded  and  dying  men  on  the  field,  in  our 
left  front,  where  Hancock  repulsed  the  foe.  It  was  the 
most  distressful  wail  we  ever  listened  to.  Thousands 
of  sufferers  upon  the  field,  and  hundreds  lying  between 
the  two  skirmish  lines,  who  could  not  be  cared  for, 
through  the  night  were  groaning  and  wailing  or  crying 
out  in  their  depth  of  suffering  and  pain.  They  were 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  73 

the  mingled  cries  of  friend  and  foe  that  were  borne  to 
us  on  the  night-breeze,  as  a  sad,  wailing,  painful  cry 
for  help. 

At  daylight,  the  battle  was  renewed,  heavily  on  our 
right,  and  with  desultory  firing  all  along  our  lines. 
Slocum,  reinforced  and  refreshed,  pushed  his  lines  for- 
ward, retaking  all  the  ground  he  had  lost,  and  punish- 
ing the  enemy  terribly. 

An  occasional  gun  from  the  hill,  told  that  those  "  dogs 
of  war"  were  not  unwatchful  of  the  contest,  and  every 
eye  was  strained  to  see  where  the  cloud  was  gathering, 
and  where  the  storm  would  fall  to-day ;  for  we  knew 
the  final  struggle  for  the  mastery  of  the  field  must  soon 
come.  The  enemy  kept  up  a  heavy  skirmish  fire  in 
our  front,  and  hundreds  of  rebel  sharp-shooters  poured 
down  our  line  an  enfilading  fire  that  was  cruel  and 
deadly ;  and  as  we  had  no  defense  or  covert  whatever, 
to  screen  us  from  this  flank  fire  of  the  sharp-shooters, 
we  suffered  terribly.  Again  the  enemy  tried  to  estab- 
lish himself  on  the  ridge  where  he  could  annoy  our  ar- 
tillerists ;  and  again  our  line  was  compelled  to  charge 
and  recharge  his  skirmishers,  to  hold  them  at  bay.  In 
one  of  these  charges,  our  regiment  captured  about 
twenty  prisoners. 

The  sharp-shooters  in  the  town  became  so  annoying, 
that  the  general  sent  down  a  six-pound  gun  to  the 
Taneytown  road,  and  shelled  the  houses  where  they 
were  hidden ;  but  this  only  made  them  worse.  To- 
ward noon,  the  fire  abated  and  finally  ceased  along  the 
lines.  There  was  a  lull  like  that  which  precedes  the 
storm ;  and  then,  about  one  o'clock,  the  batteries  of 
7 


74  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

both  armies  opened  fire  again ;  and  again  the  earth 
shook  with  the  deafening  thunder  of  nearly  three  hun- 
dred cannon,  and  that  terrific  hail  of  iron  again  fell 
thick  and  fast  upon  the  hill.  Gen.  Lee  had  massed 
his  artillery  heaviest  against  our  left,  and  tried  hard  to 
disable  our  batteries  in  that  wing.  Prisoners  taken 
through  the  day  had  talked  confidently  of  their  suc- 
cess, and  we  had  been  advised  to  "wait  till  the  five 
o'clock  charge."  But  our  generals  had  anticipated, 
and  were  prepared  for  it. 

Suddenly,  as  on  yesterday,  the  artillery  duel,  ceased 
on  their  part,  and  their  infantry  advanced  in  three 
heavy  lines  of  battle,  and  one  of  skirmishers.  Here 
were  the  three  chosen  divisions  of  their  army,  mar- 
shaled by  their  best  officers  ;  and  we  shall  see  whether 
Northmen  can  stand  before  them. 

Across  the  sloping  ground  in  front  of  Hancock  and 
Sickles,  they  came  on  with  flying  colors  and  well- 
dressed  ranks.  The  scene  is  like  a  pageant  rather 
than  a  battle.  Our  artillery  opens  upon  them,  and  the 
shot  and  shell  make  occasional  rents  in  their  line ;  but 
they  close  their  ranks  splendidly,  and  move  on  like 
veterans,  as  they  are.  We  have  a  single  line  of  in- 
fantry in  front  of  our  guns, — which  line  now  opens  fire 
upon  the  foe.  Still  they  come  forward,  cheering,  and 
hopeful— aye,  confident  of  victory.  At  the  Emmitts- 
burg  road,  where  our  line  has  the  protection  of  a  stone 
fence,  there  is  a  bloody  contest.  But  the  enemy's  sec- 
ond line  comes  forward,  and  our  infantry  are  driven 
back.  Our  cannoniers  hold  their  fire ;  they  must  not 
sweep  away  their  own  men.  On,  on,  come  the  exult- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  75 

ant  foe ;  one  of  our  advanced  batteries  is  already  in 
their  hands.  Our  retreating  infantry  gain  the  crest  of 
the  hill,  and  our  batteries  open  with  canister.  At 
every  discharge,  there  were  gaps  in  that  line  of  gray. 
The  ground  was  covered  with  their  dead  and  wounded. 
Their  line  wavered,  for  a  moment.  Their  third  line 
did  not  come  promptly  to  their  support ;  then  our  men 
went  in  with  the  bayonet  and  a  shout ;  and  the  enemy 
broke  and  went  back  in  disorder.  Hancock  threw  for- 
ward his  right,  on  the  double-quick,  plied  the  bayonet, 
and  captured  several  thousand  prisoners ;  while  the 
bleeding  remnants  of  those  proud  divisions  went  fly- 
ing back  over  the  field — our  artillery  playing  upon 
them  all  the  time — till  they  reached  the  covert  of  the 
woods. 

This  was  doubtless  the  severest  struggle  of  the  ever- 
memorable  three  days  at  Gettysburg ;  and  over  that 
field  the  dead  and  wounded  were  heaped  and  strewn 
by  thousands. 

Meanwhile,  the  battle  was  renewed  upon  our  right, 
with  a  similar  result ;  and  in  the  center,  too,  the  firing 
was  continuous  and  heavy.  The  sharp-shooting  from 
the  town  was  terribly  fatal. 

At  dark,  the  firing  slackened,  and  soon  entirely 
ceased.  We  were  greatly  worn  and  fatigued;  and, 
that  night,  got  a  little  uneasy  sleep  as  we  lay  on  our 
arms. 

The  next  morning  ushered  in  the  anniversary  of  the 
Nation's  birth-day.  Who  shall  say  that  on  this  day 
the  Nation  was  not  born  anew  ?  For,  by  the  morning- 
light  we  could  see  the  enemy's  trains  winding  away 


76  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  -THE 

through  the  mountain-pass  toward  Hagerstown ;  and 
we  knew  that  the  field  of  Gettysburg  was  ours.  A 
division  of  our  corps  charged  the  town  and  took  it,  with 
one  or  two  hundred  prisoners.  The  enemy  showed  no 
disposition  to  renew  the  conflict,  but  still  held  his  lines 
while  his  trains  were  moved  to  the  rear.  We  seized 
the  opportunity,  as  far  as  possible,  of  caring  for  our 
wounded  and  burying  our  dead.  The  loss  on  both  sides 
had  been  very  great ;  but  that  of  the  enemy  much 
greater  than  our  own.  The  loss  in  our  own  regiment 
had  been  severe  indeed;  we  went  into  the  fight  with 
scarcely  three  hundred  men,  and  lost,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  one  hundred  and  forty-four.  It  was  more 
than  sad,  to  see  so  many  of  our  noble  comrades  thus 
mangled.  But  we  were  proud  to  have  seen  them  do 
their  duty  and  bear  themselves  like  men.  Our  little 
battalion  had  stood,  for  three  days  and  nights,  in  the 
front  line,  among  those  faithful  guardians  of  our  bat- 
teries on  the  hill;  and  though  we  had  lost  half  our 
number,  still  we  had  done  our  duty.  Among  our  many 
brave  men,  Capt.  J.  G.  Doherty  had  fallen,  mortally 
wounded.  He  was  a  gallant  and  brave  officer,  and  was 
greatly  esteemed  by  his  comrades. 

The  exact  disposition  or  the  purpose  of  the  enemy,  of 
course,  was  not  known.  Our  generals  waited  during  the 
day,  however,  satisfied  to  let  the  cavalry  and  skirmish- 
ers feel  the  enemy,  and  ascertain  his  position  and  move- 
ments. On  the  next  morning  at  daylight,  the  enemy 
had  withdrawn.  Our  cavalry  pushed  forward  and  skir- 
mished with  their  rear  guard,  finding  they  were  moving 
toward  Hagerstown.  We  marched  late  in  the  after- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  77 

noon,  when  we  took  the  road  back  toward  Emmittsburg 
again.  In  the  mean  time,  we  had  gathered  our  woun- 
ded together  at  the  corps  hospital,  and  made  them  as 
comfortable  as  possible. 

To-day  there  were  hundreds  of  well-dressed  citizens 
coming  in  to  see  the  battle-field.  They  were  talking 
about  what  a  noble  battle  "we"  had  fought,  and  what  a 
splendid  victory  "we"  had  won;  but  they  said  not  a 
word  about  helping  to  bind  up  the  wounds  of  our  suf- 
fering thousands — not  a  word  about  making  a  cup  of 
coffee  or  a  pallet  of  straw  for  a  single  bleeding  patriot 
They  had  come  to  see  merely. 

Leaving  the  battle-field  about  sunset,  our  division 
marched  far  into  the  night,  on  the  road  to  Emmittsburg, 
and  the  next  day  moved  on  to  that  town.  On  the  7th", 
we  pursued  our  march  back  toward  Middleton;  and,  on 
the  8th,  marched  through  Middleton  again,  arid  en- 
camped at  South  Mountain  Pass.  The  enemy  had 
passed  around  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  and 
were  now  in  the  Antietam  valley.  There  was  heavy 
skirmishing  near  Boonsboro'  and  Funkstown.  Our 
brigade  now  moved  to  the  right,  and  halted  near  a  vil- 
lage called  Balpville,  where  we  remained  two  days. 
Then  we  closed  in  on  the  turnpike  between  Hagarstown 
and  the  Antietam  Creek.  Here  we  skirmished  with  the 
enemy  for  two  days.  Their  army  was  in  position  on  a 
ridge  running  from  Hagarstown  to  the  Potomac,  near 
Williamsport.  It  was  supposed  Gen.  Lee  had  con- 
structed here  formidable  defenses;  but  the  sequel 
proved  that  he  was  only  covering  the  transfer  of  his 
trains,  plunder  and  artillery  across  the  river. 


78  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  it  was  reported  that  the 
rebel  army  had  crossed  the  river,  and  our  corps  was 
hurried  forward  to  Williamsport.  But  the  foe  had  es- 
caped, losing  only  a  small  party  of  his  rear-guard. 


RETURN  TO  VIRGINIA. 

Moving  back  leisurely,  we  passed  through  Hagars- 
town  again,  where  we  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing,  for 
the  first  time,  a  portion  of  the  "  Pennsylvania  melish." 
It  was  absolutely  refreshing  to  look  upon  their  soldierly 
countenances,  and  realize  what  a  treasure  to  the  nation 
these  heroic  men  had  been.  And  as  they  presented 
arms  to  us,  with  gun-barrels  to  the  front,  at  the  same 
time  nodding  their  heads,  and  saying,  "  How  are  ye  ?" 
we  were  gratified  to  be  able  to  assure  them  that  we 
were  "  tol'able  like." 

Our  corps  passed  through  Middleton  and  Jefferson 
again,  and  struck  the  Potomac  at  Berlin.  Along  the 
route  we  were  met  by  may  evidences  of  appreciation 
of  our  work  at  Gettysburg;  but  there  were  many 
citizens  of  Maryland  whose  long  faces  and  sullen  looks 
told  too  plainly  where  their  sympathies  lay.  We  en- 
joyed some  days  of  much-needed  rest  at  Berlin,  and 
then  crossed  the  river  again.  We  now  moved  up 
through  that  beautiful  valley  which  lies  between  the 
Kittocktin  mountains  and  the  Blue  Ridge.  This  sec- 
tion had  not  yet  been  greatly  desolated  by  the  war. 
Many  of  the  citizens  turned  out  to  give  us  welcome. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       79 

Nevertheless,  most  of  the  "first  families"  rejoiced  in 
the  belief  that  Lee  had  been  victorious  at  Gettysburg ; 
that  the  cowardly  Yankees  had  been  terribly  whipped; 
that  now,  as  ever,  one  Southerner  could  whip  five  Yan- 
kees, and  that  the  South  never  could  be  conquered. 

We  marched  along  the  mountain  side,  and  then  along 
the  summit  of  the  Kittocktin  range,  while  on  our  right, 
the  beautiful  valley  lay  beneath  us.  It  was  but  ten  to 
fifteen  miles  across  to  the  great  rocky  wall  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  we  could  see  at  a  glance  our  whole  army 
advancing  up  the  valley,  in  three  separate  columns, 
with  the  long  trains  of  white-topped  wagons  stretching 
far  to  the  rear.  We  descended  from  our  high  road  to 
the  waters  of  Goose  Creek,  and  encamped  for  three 
days.  Mosby,  with  his  guerrillas,  was  at  work  on  our 
flanks  and  rear.  His  omnipresent  bushwhackers  were 
constantly  capturing  forage  trains,  sutlers,  stragglers, 
mules,  etc.  Two  evenings  after  arriving  here,  our  reg- 
iment was  sent  to  a  ford,  eight  miles  down  the  creek, 
while  a  force  swept  down  on  the  other  side,  to  drive  the 
guerrillas  across  the  ford.  We  watched  and  waited  all 
night ;  but  neither  Mosby  nor  his  freebooters  appeared. 

Next  day  we  rejoined  the  corps,  and  on  the  following 
morning  resumed  our  march.  We  passed  through  Mid- 
dleburg,  where  we  saw  great  broods  of  young  negroes. 
The  town  seemed  like  a  negro  colony.  Every  street 
was  lined  with  these  ebony  images  in  groups  and 
crowds.  We  scarcely  saw  a  white  face  in  the  town. 
The  bands  played  "Glory,  glory,  Hallelujah!  as  we  go 
marching  on!"  and  young  Africa  grinned,  laughed, 
danced  and  shouted  in  succession. 


80     y  JOURNAL- HISTORY  OF  THE          v 

About  noon  our  regiment  was  halted,  and  placed  in 
ambuscade,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  entrap  some  of  Mos- 
by's  band.  We  remained  hidden  far  into  the  night ; 
but  Mosby's  men  kept  aloof.  At  midnight  we  moved 
on,  and  rejoined  the  brigade  at  White  Plains. 

Next  day  our  corps  reached  New  Baltimore,  and 
again  halted  for  two  nights.  Then  on  again  through 
the  village  of  Greenwich — past  Catlet's  Station  to 
Warrenton  Junction — where  we  went  into  a  regular 
encampment.  After  remaining  here  a  week,  our  bri- 
gade was  sent  to  Brentsville,  the  county  seat  of  Prince 
Williams,  and  made  the  march  in  one  of  the  most  in- 
tensely hot  days  of  the  summer.  On  the  26th  of  July, 
Lieut.-Col.  Long  was  detailed  as  corps  provost  marshal, 
and  Major  Hurst  took  command  of  the  regiment.  We 
had  hopes  of  a  pleasant  encampment  at  Brentsville;  but 
just  as  we  got  ready  to  stay,  we  were  ordered  to  Cat- 
let's  Station.  After  remaining  here  three  weeks,  the 
Seventy-third  Ohio  was  sent  to  Greenwich,  while  the 
rest  of  the  brigade  moved  to  Bristoe  Station.  While  at 
Greenwich,  a  wagon  and  guard  of  five  men,  bringing 
rations  from  Bristoe,  were  captured  by  Mosby's  men. 

The  regiment  stopped  at  Greenwich  but  a  week,  and 
then  rejoined  the  brigade  at  Bristoe,  where  we  remained 
until  the  latter  part  of  September.  Our  duty  was  light 
at  all  these  places,  and  we  were,  indeed,  having  a  long 
and  grateful  rest  after  the  severe  campaign  of  Gettys- 
burg. September  was  a  charming  month  for  out-door 
life;  and  with  fruits  and  vegetables,  which  we  could 
purchase  in  the  neighborhood,  we  were  quite  comfort- 
able and  contented. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  81 


FROM  MANASAS  JUNCTION  TO  BRIDGEPORT,  ALABAMA. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  orders  were  received  to 
prepare  to  march.  It  was  intimated  that  we  should 
move  upon  the  cars  ;  but,  whether  to  join  Gen.  Gilmore, 
in  Charleston  harbor,  or  change  our  base  to  Aquia 
Creek,  or  the  James  River,  or  to  join  Gen.  Rosecrans, 
after  the  bloody  repulse  at  Chickamauga,  we  could  not 
guess.  Another  order,  the  same  evening,  compelled 
us  to  strike  tents,  and  march  to  Manassas  that  night. 
We  reached  the  Junction  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  rested  till  daylight.  During  the  morning,  we  em- 
barked on  the  cars,  and  reached  Alexandria  at  noon. 
Our  destination  was  now  no  longer  a  matter  of  conjec- 
ture. We  were  to  reinforce  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land. We  were  to  bid  farewell  to  the  noble  old  Army 
of  the  Potomac — farewell  to  the  desolate  fields  of  old 
Virginia — farewell  to  her  bloody  battle-grounds,  and 
the  dust  of  our  sleeping  comrades  !  and  go  to  join  our 
own  Western  army  on  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee. 
The  order  included  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  corps, 
which  were  to  be  transported  rapidly  to  Bridgeport, 
Alabama ;  and  all  the  railroads  over  which  they  were 
to  pass  were  ordered  to  clear  the  way,  and  let  the  mili- 
tary trains  pass  without  reference  to  their  time-tables. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  when  our 
trains  left  Washington,  and  moved  slowly  out  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  road.  The  morning  of  the  26th 
found  us  breakfasting  at  Martinsburg.  At  noon,  on 
the  27th,  we  reached  Benwood,  on  the  Ohio  River,  and 


82  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

greeted  with  hearty  cheers  the  hills  of  our  own  native 
State.  We  crossed  the  river,  took  dinner  at  Bellair, 
and  then  taking  trains  on  the  Ohio  Central,  pushed  for- 
ward again.  We  had  coffee  at  Zanesville  about  mid- 
night, breakfasted  next  morning  at  Columbus,  and 
then  pushed  right  on  past  our  own  homes  and  families, 
which  most  of  us  had  not  seen  for  nearly  two  years. 
Nor  were  our  friends  advised  of  our  coming.  The 
movement  was  to  be  kept  as  secret  as  possible  ;  and  in 
many  places,  they  knew  nothing  of  it  until  our  first 
trains  passed  along  :  yet,  wherever  they  knew  of  it,  we 
were  most  cordially  welcomed,  especially  in  Ohio  and 
Indiana,  showing  the  earnest  loyalty  of  those  noble 
States.  We  passed  through  Dayton  and  Indianapolis, 
and  reached  Louisville  at  midnight  of  the  28th.  The 
next  night  we  changed  cars  at  Nashville,  and  pushing 
right  on,  arrived  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  at  noon  of 
September  30th,  and  pitched  our  tents  on  the  bank  of 
the  Tennessee. 

Thus  were  two  army  corps,  numbering  20,000  men, 
transferred  from  Manassas  to  Bridgeport  (a  distance  of 
1,200  miles)  in  five  days.  This  was  a  triumph  of  rail- 
road enterprise  unexampled  in  the  history  of  either 
war  or  peace. 


THE   SITUATION. 

Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry  had  crossed  the  Tennessee 
River,  and  now,  moving  upon  our  line  of  communica- 
tions, destroyed  several  railroad  bridges  between  Ste- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  83 

venson  and  Nashville ;  and  threatened  so  seriously  to 
disturb  our  communications  as  to  compel  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  to  fall  back  from  Chattanooga.  It  was  daring 
generalship  that  carried  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
so  far  into  the  interior  of  the  Confederacy.  Gen. 
Rosecrans  had  ventured 'even  beyond  his  strength,  and 
had  consequently  suffered  at  Chickamauga.  The  spirit 
of  his  army  was  good,  however ;  and  in  the  strong  po- 
sition at  Chattanooga,  he  would  be  able  to  maintain 
himself  unless  his  communications  were  disturbed,  and 
his  supplies  cut  off. 

The  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  corps  were,  for  a  time, 
assigned  to  the  work  of  guarding  these  communica- 
tions and  the  depots  of  supplies ;  while  all  the  facili- 
ties for  transportation  were  taxed  to  the  utmost  to 
bring  supplies  forward  from  Nashville.  The  railroad 
bridge  at  Bridgeport  had  been  destroyed,  and  all  sup- 
plies for  the  Cumberland  army  had  to  be  carried  in 
wagons  from  Bridgeport  and  Stevenson  to  Chattanooga, 
a  distance  of  forty  miles.  The  enemy  occupied  the 
country  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  greatly  an- 
noyed our  trains  carrying  supplies  to  Chattanooga. 
For  several  days  after  Wheeler  struck  the  road,  there 
were  no  trains  from  Nashville.  The  army  at  the  front 
was  on  half  rations,  and  our  corps  were  now  placed  on 
short  allowance  also.  There  were  only  supplies  on 
hand  for  a  week  or  ten  days.  A  few  more  dashes  of 
Wheeler's  cavalry,  and  our  haversacks  will  be  empty. 

In  the  meantime  our  brigade  was  ordered  back  to 
Stevenson,  ten  miles  from  Bridgeport,  and  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Memphis  and  Nashville  roads,  where  we 


84  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

* 

remained  in  camp  three  weeks.  There  was  great  anxi- 
ety on  the  subject  of  rations,  and  the  first  trains  from 
Nashville,  after  the  road  was  repaired,  were  greeted 
with  cheers  through  all  the  camps. 

It  will  be  safe  to  say,  there  was  not  much  aristocracy 
in  this  section  of  Alabama.  There  was,  however, 
abundant  "  white  trash,"  which,  though  not  the  whitest, 
was  yet  the  trashiest  we  had  ever  seen.  They  were 
such  wretched,  sallow,  squalid,  ragged  and  unclean 
starvelings  as  only  a  land  of  "  chivalry"  could  produce. 

While  at  Stevenson,  news  of  the  supersedure  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans  reached  us,  and,  though  somewhat  disap- 
pointed in  not  getting  to  follow  u  Old  Rosey,"  we  were 
yet  glad  to  have  Gen.  Grant  in  command :  for,  though 
he  had  not  risen  to  the  hight  of  his  fame,  the  army  and 
the  nation  had  great  confidence  in  him.  Gen.  Hooker 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth 
corps,  which,  together,  formed  a  kind  of  grand  division. 


UP  THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER. 

October  23,  our  brigade  struck  tents,  and  marched 
back  to  Bridgeport,  stopping  here,  however,  only  one 
day,  and  then  crossing  the  river  and  moving  up  the 
railroad  six  miles  to  Shellmound.  Here  we  remained 
two  days,  having  time  to  survey  the  great  wonder  of 
the  section — Nickajack  Cave ;  through  which,  for  a 
mile,  flows  a  very  considerable  stream,  called  Nickajack 
Creek.  Tho  Eleventh,  and  Geary's  division  of  the 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  85 

Twelfth  corps,  now  came  up  from  Bridgeport,  and  we 
joined  their  moving  column,  following  the  general 
course  of  the  river.  We  reached  Whiteside,  and  rested 
for  a  night.  Here,  as  at  Bridgeport,  the  rebels  had 
burned  an  extensive  railroad  bridge.  On  the  next  day 
our  column  moved  on  until  it  reached  the  Trenton  rail- 
road, and  then  turned  down  to  Wauhatchie.  At  this 
point,  we  could  plainly  see  the  rebel  signal  corps  hard 
at  work  on  the  summit  of  Lookout  Mountain.  Here, 
also,  we  encountered  the  enemy's  outpost,  and  a  lively 
skirmish  ensued.  The  Seventy-third  Pennsylvania  reg- 
iment, on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  the  Seventy-third 
Ohio  on  the  right,  moved  forward  in  line  of  battle,  driv- 
ing the  rebel  skirmishers  back  about  a  mile,  and  across 
Lookout  Creek.  The  enemy's  artillery  on  Lookout 
Mountain  opened  on  us,  and  their  shell  fell  uncomfort- 
ably near.  After  driving  the  enemy's  skirmishers 
across  the  creek,  we  drew  off,  and  moved  to  the  left,  on 
the  road  to  Brown's  Ferry. 

This  road  ran  at  the  foot  of  a  range  of  hills  that  ex- 
tended three  miles  from  the  ferry  toward  Wauhatchie. 
For  two  miles  from  the  ferry,  these  hills  were  occupied 
by  troops  from  Gen.  Thomas'  army  at  Chattanooga. 
They  had  floated  down  the  river  in  pontoon  boats,  sur- 
prised the  rebel  outposts,  and  carried  these  hills — only 
the  night  before.  They  had  fortified  the  hills,  and 
thrown  a  pontoon  bridge  across  the  river  at  the  ferry. 
When  we  came  in  sight  of  these  troops,  the  scene  was 
most  thrilling.  This  was  the  first  we  had  seen  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland;  and  their  welcome  to 
u  Hooker's  men"  was  most  hearty.  As  our  column 


86  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

advanced  along  the  valley,  greeted  and  greeting,  the 
shout  was  passed  from  hill-top  to  hill-top — the  bands 
played,  the  flags  waved,  and  the  very  heavens  rang 
with  shouts  such  as  are  only  heard  in  the  army ;  and 
their  shouts  were  answered  back  by  our  men,  with  real 
soldierly  enthusiasm. 

Our  corps  encamped  nearly  two  miles  from  the  ferry, 
while  Geary's  division  stopped  for  the  night  at  Wau- 
hatchie,  two  miles  further  back.  We  lay  down  to  rest, 
thinking  pleasantly  of  the  fact  that  we  had  at  last 
formed  a  junction  with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  that  hereafter  our  fortune  and  destiny  were  to  be 
linked  with  the  great  army  of  the  West. 


MIDNIGHT  CHARGE  AT  LOOKOUT  VALLEY. 

About  one  o'clock,  we  were  awakened  by  -what  we 
supposed  to  be  picket  firing  in  the  direction  of  Wau- 
hatchie ;  but  the  firing  rapidly  increased,  until  it  was 
one  continuous  roll  of  musketry,  with  occasional  dis- 
charges of  cannon ;  and  told  us  that  a  daring  attack 
had  been  made  upon  Gen.  Geary  at  Wauhatchie.  We 
had  orders  to  fall  in  with  arms,  followed  by  others  to 
move  on  the  double-quick  to  the  support  of  Gen. 
Geary.  Gen.  Shurz'  division  was  camped  between  ours 
and  Wauhatchie,  and  had  the  same  orders ;  but  we 
passed  their  camps  before  they  had  started,  and  moved 
rapidly  along  the  road  on  which  we  had  come  down  in 
the  afternoon,  which  road  ran  at  the  foot  of  the  range 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  87 

of  hills  referred  to.  The  last  two  hills  of  this  range 
nearest  Wauhatchie  had  not  been  occupied  by  our 
troops,  neither  before  nor  after  our  arrival  in  the  after- 
noon. There  was  thus  left  a  space  of  a  mile  and  a  half 
between  the  pickets  of  our  corps  and  those  of  Geary's 
division,  with  these  unoccupied  hills  in  the  interval. 

As  we  advanced  rapidly  along  the  road,  our  brigade 
leading  the  division  and  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  leading 
the  brigade,  the  enemy's  pickets  began  to  fire  on  us  from 
the  hill-side.  Our  regiment  immediately  formed  line, 
with  our  right  resting  on  the  road  and  our  left  reaching 
part-way  up  the  hill.  Capt.  Bookwalter  went  forward 
with  company  A  deployed  as  skirmishers ;  and,  with 
the  Thirty-third  Massachusetts  supporting,  we  again 
moved  on.  When  we  came  directly  opposite  the  first 
of  the  two  hills,  which  we  supposed  to  be  unoccupied, 
the  enemy  began  to  fire  from  the  hill  right  down  our 
line  of  battle,  completely  enfilading  it.  The  Seventy- 
third  Ohio  and  the  Thirty-third  Massachusetts  were 
now  ordered  to  wheel  into  a  common  line,  and 
charge  the  hill.  The  line  was  formed  and  orders  sent 
to  Capt.  Bookwalter  to  file  his  skirmishers  to  the  left 
into  the  new  front  of  battle ;  in  executing  which  move- 
ment, that  gallant  officer  fell,  mortally  wounded.  We 
immediately  began  the  ascent  of  the  hill,  which  was 
indeed  very  difficult.  The  hill  was  some  three  hundred 
feet  high,  and  it  was  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
from  its  foot  to  its  summit.  The  hill-side  was  covered 
with  heavy  timber  and  underbrush,  and,  in  many  places, 
we  could  only  advance  by  holding  on  to  or  pulling  our- 
selves up  by  the  underbrush.  Steadily,  however,  we 


88  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

pushed  on  up,  until  we  were  half  way  to  the  summit, 
and  then  halted  a  moment  to  rest  and  correct  our  al- 
lignment.  The  enemy's  fire  had,  thus  far,  gone  almost 
entirely  over  us,  as  we  were  hidden  from  their  sight  by 
the  thick  underbrush.  Again  we  rose  up  and  went  for- 
ward ;  nearer  and  nearer  we  came  to  the  summit,  and 
the  rebel  fire  grew  heavier  and  more  effective.  Finally, 
about  forty  paces  from  the  hill-top,  we  came  out  into 
more  open  ground ;  and  by  the  clear  moonlight  they 
could  see  our  line  advancing.  Their  skirmishers  had 
fallen  back,  and  their  whole  line  now  opened  on  us  a 
most  murderous  fire.  We  replied  to  their  volley,  and 
charged  forward,  urging  our  way  over  tops  of  trees  and 
other  obstructions,  on  up  until  our  left  was  within  two 
rods  of  the  enemy's  works.  Here  now  we  received  a 
terrible  volley  from  the  enemy's  left  which  was  thrown 
a  little  forward,  their  fire  enfilading  our  line.  Just  then, 
too,  carne  shouts  from  our  left  front,  u  Don't  fire  into 
your  own  men  !"  "Cease  firing !"  "You  are  killing 
your  own  friends !"  etc.  The  Thirty-third  Massachu- 
setts had  separated  from  our  battalion  while  climbing 
the  hill,  and  now  supposing  this  confusion  on  the  left 
might  arise  from  some  misunderstanding,  and  thinking 
it  rash  to  advance  farther  without  some  connections  or 
supports,  we  were  ordered  to  retire  a  few  rods  and  lie 
down.  An  officer  was  now  dispatched  to  find  the  Thir- 
ty-third Massachusetts,  which  had  borne  away  to  the 
left  in  ascending  the  hill,  having  taken  a  slightly  differ- 
ent direction  from  our  own  battalion.  That  regiment 
had  also  suffered  severely  from  the  bitter  fire  of  the 
enemy,  and  had  now  fallen  back  nearly  to  the  foot  of 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  89 

the  hill;  hearing  that  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  far 
up  toward  the  summit,  they  rallied,  and  went  up  the 
hill  again  with  a  shout.  Learning  of  their  advance,  the 
Seventy-third  also  wenb  forward.  But  this  time  the 
enemy  broke  and  fled,  leaving  their  breastworks,  and 
making  good  their  retreat  across  Lookout  Creek  again. 
The  moment  our  fire  began  here,  that  of  the  enemy 
against  Gen.  Geary  ceased,  and  the  division  attacking 
him  fell  back  rapidly,  also,  to  keep  from  being  cut  off 
from  the  bridge. 

It  now  became  known  that  (finding  Gen.  Geary  iso- 
lated from  the  rest  of  the  army  in  his  encampment  for 
the  night),  the  enemy  had  sent  over  two  divisions,  as 
soon  as  it  wras  dark,  had  occupied  these  two  hills  with 
one  division,  to  cut  off  help  from  Geary,  and  had  fallen 
upon  him  with  the  other,  a  little  after  midnight. 

The  division  on  the  hills  had  made  a  continuous  line 
of  works  for  nearly  half  a  mile,  which,  with  the  advan- 
tage of  position,  should  have  enabled  them  to  resist 
two  or  three  times  their  number.  And  yet,  a  brigade  of 
five  regiments  was  driven  from  the  hill  (charged  by  the 
Seventy-third  Ohio  and  Thirty-third  Massachusetts) 
by  two  small  regiments,  numbering,  together,  less  than 
five  hundred  men  in  ranks.  But  the  victory  was  a 
costly  one  to  us  ;  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  being 
five  officers  and  sixty  men,  out  of  less  than  two  hun- 
dred in  the  regiment.  The  loss  of  the  Thirty-third 
Massachusetts  was  equally  great  with  our  own.  Among 
our  fallen,  the  regiment  was  called  to  mourn  that  brave 
and  accomplished  officer,  Capt.  Luther  M.  Bookwalter, 
who  fell  leading  his  men  in  the  fight,  and  lived  but  a 


90  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

few  hours  after  his  wounding.  He  was  an  officer  of 
great  gallantry  and  worth,  and  a  young  man  of  highest 
promise,  greatly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 

This  engagement,  so  sudden  and  unexpected  to  us, 
was  one  of  the  hottest  and  most  bravely-contested  of  our 
battles;  and,  as  an  achievement,  was  perhaps  the  most 
daring  of  our  regimental  history.  Gen.  Grant,  who  was 
on  the  ground  the  next  day,  in  his  official  report  of  the 
engagement,  pronounced  the  charge  of  the  Seventy- 
third  Ohio  and  Thirty-third  Massachusetts  "  one  of  the 
most  daring  feats  of  arms  of  the  war." 

The  enemy  again  established  his  line  along  the  right 
bank  of  Lookout  Creek,  but  kept  up  a  desultory  artil- 
lery fire  from  Lookout  Point,  upon  our  position  on 
these  hills,  upon  our  passing  trains  in  Lookout  Valley, 
and  occasionally  upon  Chattanooga  and  the  camps  sur- 
rounding it. 

In  a  few  days,  there  was  a  truce  established  between 
the  pickets  of  our  corps  and  those  of  the  enemy ;  and 
they  conversed  freely  with  each  other,  from  opposite 
banks  of  the  creek.  This  truce  resulted  in  the  deser- 
tion to  us  of  large  numbers  of  the  enemy's  pickets ; 
until,  finally,  their  officers  forbade  all  communications, 
under  heavy  penalties. 

We  remained,  for  several  days,  on  the  hill  which  we 
had  captured  from  the  enemy;  but  considerably  an- 
noyed by  his  artillery  on  Lookout  Mountain.  Then  we 
changed  position  to  the  hill-side,  half  a  mile  farther 
down  toward  Brown's  Ferry,  where  we  remained  some 
time.  The  rebel  Gen.  Longstreet,  in  the  meantime, 
moved  upon  Knoxville,  with  his  corps  of  25,000  men, 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  91 

thus  materially  weakening  Bragg's  army  in  front  of  Chat- 
tanooga. It  was  the  intention  to  fall  upon  Gen.  Burn- 
side  at  Knoxville,  and  crush  his  little  army  before  help 
could  reach  him.  Gen.  Sherman,  with  the  main  body  of 
the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  was  on  the  march  from  Mem- 
phis to  join  the  army  of  the  Cumberland;  and  Gen. 
Grant  resolved  to  attack  Bragg's  army  while  Longstreet 
was  absent.  Gen.  Bragg  held  Lookout  Mountain,  Chat- 
tanooga Valley,  and  Mission  Ridge ;  thus  half-encircling 
Chattanooga,  and  resting  both  his  right  and  left  upon 
the  Tennessee  river. 

Our  corps  was  ordered  to  move,  Nov.  20th ;  and  on 
Sunday,  the  22d,  we  crossed  the  river  at  Brown's 
Ferry,  and  moved  on  through  Chattanooga.  We  biv- 
ouacked near  the  camp  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  on  the  right 
of  Fort  Wood.  Geary's  division  alone  was  left  to  hold 
our  position  at  Lookout  Valley ;  but  Osterhaus  com- 
ing down  from  Trenton  found  the  pontoon  broken,  and 
was  also  compelled  to  remain  on  that  side  of  the  river 
and  report  to  Gen.  Hooker. 


BATTLE  OF  MISSION  RIDGE. 

At  noon  of  Monday,  Nov.  23d,  orders  were  quietly 
passed  around,  to  stack  knapsacks  and  prepare  for 
work.  Howard's  corps  was  massed  on  the  hill,  on  the 
right  of  Fort  Wood ;  while  the  old  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland moved  out  in  splendid  array,  formed  rapidly 
in  line-of-battle,  and  as  rapidly  engaged  and  drove  in 
the  enemy's  pickets. 


92  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Our  lines  reached  from  the  mouth  of  Chattanooga 
Creek,  across  the  valley,  to  the  woo.ds  that  skirt  the 
foot  of  Mission  Ridge ;  and  then  up  in  range  of  Orch- 
ard Knob,  to  the  left  of  the  town. 

So  quietly  and  boldly  did  our  army  deploy  into  line, 
that,  it  is  asserted,  the  enemy  believed  it  was  a  review 
or  field-day,  until  our  skirmishers  went  "to  work.  As 
soon  as  our  troops  on  the  right  and  center  had  got 
into  position,  Howard's  corps  was  thrown  forward  on 
the  left,  reaching  across  the  two  railroads  and  resting 
our  left  upon  the  Tennessee  river,  a  mile  above  town. 
The  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  in  the  second  line  of  the 
brigade  on  this  afternoon,  and  about  three  hundred 
yards  from  the  river.  A  heavy  skirmish  fire  was  kept 
up  in  our  front ;  and  the  bullets  flew  recklessly  above 
and  among  us. 

We  lay  here  until  noon  of  the  following  day.  The 
enemy  had  a  strong  force  of  skirmishers  in  our  front^ 
across  a  ravine  and  creek,  where  they  had  the  protec- 
tion of  excellent  rifle-pits.  Our  First  brigade  was  re- 
pulsed in  an  effort  to  dislodge  them.  Gen.  Steinwehr 
was  ordered  to  send  a  regiment  across  this  creek  at  its 
mouth,  to  sweep  up  on  the  other  side,  and  drive  out  of 
the  woods  in  front  of  our  division  this  rebel  force.  He 
selected  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  to  perform  this  work. 

We  crossed  the  creek  near  the  river,  formed  our  lines 
and  then  charged  through  the  woods.  The  right  of  the 
rebel  skirmish  line  fired  one  volley  and  retreated.  We 
swept  on,  up  behind  the  railroad  embankment,  until  we 
got  in  rear  of  the  rifle-pits  from  which  they  had  kept 
up  such  an  annoying  fire.  Thus  we  cut  off,  and  cap- 


SEVENTY-THIRD    OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  93 

tured  thirty-three  prisoners,  and  then  opened  fire  on 
their  reserves  which  rapidly  fell  back  toward  the  ridge. 
This  opened  the  way  up  the  river,  and  Gen.  Howard 
at  once  moved  with  one  brigade,  and  opened  commu- 
nications with  Gen.  Sherman  who  had  crossed  the 
river  some  four  miles  up,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chick- 
amauga. 

The  battle  was  now  becoming  general  and  warm. 
During  the  afternoon,  we  could  plainly  hear  Sherman's 
cannon  and  musketry  far  out  upon  the  left,  and  the 
sound  of  Hooker'sjdaring  battle  on  the  right.  The  lat- 
ter, contrary  to  the  expectations  of  the  commanding 
generals,  pushed  his  fortunes  up  the  rocky  wall  of 
Lookout  Mountain ;  steadily  and  determinedly  driving 
the  enemy  before  him,  and  sweeping  around  the  point 
as  the  day  advanced.  Here,  indeed,  was  a  most  spir- 
ited engagement.  As  night  closed  in,  we  could  see  the 
two  lines  of  fire,  running  from  the  base  to  the  summit 
of  the  mountain,  and  on  into  the  middle  of  the  night. 
Hooker's  men  pressed  resistlessly  forward,  the  blaze  of 
of  their  muskets  marking  their  advance ;  before  which 
the  enemy  stubbornly  retired. 

Our  regiment  remained  on  the  railroad  embankment 
all  that  night ;  and  early  the  next  morning,  charged 
forward  again  amid  a  shower  of  balls  from  the  rebel 
reserves.  We  drove  their  skirmishers  back  again,  and 
established  our  line  along  the  Chattanooga  and  Knox- 
ville  railroad,  to  which,  now,  the  entire  left  of  the  line 
of  our  corps  was  thrown  forward.  At  noon  of  this  day 
the  whole  of  our  corps,  except  the  brigade  that  had 
already  gone,  moved  up  the  river  about  four  miles,  and 


94  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

joined  Gen.  Sherman.  Our  brigade  took  position  on 
the  banks  of  the  Chickamauga,  on  Sherman's  extreme 
left,  and  we  could  see  the  rebel  cavalry  across  the  river, 
occupying  the  hills,  and  scouting  the  country.  Gen. 
Sherman  had,  during  the  day,  attacked  the  enemy  on 
his  (the  enemy's)  right,  and  had  been  repulsed.  The 
First  brigade  of  our  division  had  been  in  the  attacking 
party,  and  had  lost  three  hundred  men.  The  enemy 
evidently  expected  the  main  fight  would  come  off  in 
this  locality;  and  all  day  we  could  see  them  moving  to 
the  right.  Infantry  and  artillery  seemed  to  be  massing 
there  to  meet  the  anticipated  attack  of  Sherman.  In- 
deed, it  was  given  out  and  generally  believed  in  both 
armies  that  Sherman  was  to  make  the  main  attack  on 
the  enemy's  right. 

Things  looked  rather  dark  to  us  at  the  close  of  this 
day's  fighting.  The  repulse  of  Sherman's  troops  au- 
gured badly.  There  had  been  considerable  fighting 
down  toward  our  center  and  right  during  the  afternoon, 
but  we  did  not  know  the  .result.  But,  while  reflecting 
on  our  want  of  success,  and  thinking  bitterly  of  the 
morrow,  news  came  to  us  that  Hooker,  having  taken 
Lookout  Mountain,  had  moved  rapidly  up  the  Chatta- 
nooga valley,  through  the  gap  at  Rossville,  and  had 
fallen  on  the  enemy's  left;  while  Gen.  Thomas  had 
massed  his  troops  in  the  center,  in  front  of  Chattanoo- 
ga— charged  and  broken  the  rebel  center,  and  that  the 
whole  rebel  army  was  in  full  retreat,  after  having  lost 
fifty  cannon,  six  thousand  prisoners,  and  many  thou- 
sand stand  of  small-arms.  The  news  of  the  victory,  so 
complete  and  overwhelming,  was  at  once  communicated 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       95 

to  the  troops  on  the  left,  and  was  received  with  shouts 
of  joy  that  wakened  the  grandest  echoes  among  the 
hills  of  Old  Chickamauga.  Regiment  after  regiment, 
and  brigade  succeeding  brigade,  took  up  the  shout,  un- 
til it  became  one  mighty  chorus  of  victory  of  forty 
thousand  voices. 

That  night  we  slept  sweetly  by  our  blazing  piles  of 
rails.  Our  hearts  which  had,  but  a  few  hours  before, 
been  sad  with  the  thought  of  failure  and  defeat,  now 
leaped  with  the  joy  and  thrilled  with  the  pride  of  vic- 
tory. That  night  our  hardtack  and  coffee  were  better 
than  a  prince's  feast,  and  our  earthy  bed  was  a  couch 
for  kings. 

Mingled  with  our  joy  over  this  great  victory,  was,  to 
us,  the  grateful  reflection,  that,  while  the  Seventy-third 
as  a  regiment  had  borne  an  honorable  part  in  another 
great  and  successful  battle,  it  had  been  almost  entirely 
without  loss  or  suffering  to  ourselves. 

Next  morning  our  corps  moved  early,  down  the 
Chickamauga  to  its  mouth,  where  we  crossed  that 
stream  on  a  pontoon,  and,  moving  rapidly  up  the  right 
bank,  followed  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  There  was 
some  skirmishing  at  Chickamauga  Station,  and  our 
forces  were  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  supposing  the 
enemy  would  make  a;  stand ;  but  no  engagement  took 
place.  At  the  station  was  a  large  amount  of  corn-meal, 
flour,  etc.,  which  the  enemy  had  left.  Much,  however, 
had  been  destroyed  or  wasted.  The  Union  forces 
pressed  hard  on  the  retreating  column,  and  just  after 
sunset,  had  a  considerable  skirmish  with  their  rear- 
guard. Our  brigade  was  hurried  forward,  expecting  to 


96  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

join  in  the  fight;  tut  it  ended  just  before  we  reached 
the  scene — the  enemy  retiring. 

That  night  we  feasted  on  corn  cakes  made  of  rebel 
meal,  to  which  the  men  had  helped  themselves  as  they 
passed  the  station,  and  though  we  had  never  envied  the 
rebel  soldiers  their  rations  of  corn  bread,  the  cakes 
were  a  real  luxury  to  our  cracker-worn  palates. 

Next  morning  the  corps  moved  early  forward  to  the 
village  of  Graysville,  where  it  halted  some  hours. 
There  was  desultory  skirmishing  of  artillery  and  small 
arms  to  our  right  and  front.  Gen.  Grant  was  pushing 
forward  his  army  in  three  columns,  and  the  head  of  one 
of  these  columns  was  almost  constantly  engaged  with 
the  enemy.  About  noon,  Gen.  Howard's  corps  was 
ordered  away  to  the  left  front  to  occupy  Turner's  Gap. 
But  before  reaching  that  position,  we  were  convinced 
by  the  roar  of  cannon  and  musketry  in  our  right 
front  that  a  very  spirited  engagement  was  going  on  in 
that  direction.  It  proved  to  be  Gen.  Hooker's  column 
fighting  at  Ringgold,  some  five  miles  from  us.  Our 
corps  rested  in  the  vicinity  of  Turner's  Gap,  and  we 
took  dinner  just  across  the  line  in  the  State  of  Georgia, 
adding  another  to  the  list  of  states  whose  sacred  soil 
we  had  trodden.  This  neighborhood  had  not  suffered 
much  devastation,  and  it  was  really  refreshing  to  get 
away  from  the  desolate  surroundings  of  Chattanooga, 
with  its  graveyards  of  dead  mules  and  horses,  out  into 
the  fresh,  clean,  healthful  country,  where  there  were 
fences  and  farms,  and  houses  and  people,  just  as  though 
there  had  been  no  war.  And,  what  was  new  and  curi- 
ous to  us,'  was  the  existence  of  much  loyalty  in  the 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       97 

neighborhood  into  which  we  had  come.  Nearly  all  the 
men  had  gone  into  the  army,  either  willingly  or  unwil- 
lingly, but  many  had  gone  into  the  Union  army  rather 
than  serve  in  the  ranks  of  treason.  We  had  long  heard 
of  the  loyalty  of  Northern  Georgia  and  East  Tennessee, 
and  now  right  where  the  two  met  we  could  know  for 
ourselves  it  was  not  a  fable  nor  misrepresentation. 
There  were  unmistakable  evidences  of  joy  at  our  com- 
ing from  many  who  had  sons,  brothers,  or  friends 
fighting  under  the  flag  and  for  the  cause  of  the  Union. 
One  gray-haired  woman  came  from  the  door  of  her 
humble  cottage,  as  our  column  marched  along,  and 
asked  our  color-sergeant  to  unroll  the  u  old  flag,"  "  for," 
said  she,  with  tears  of  joy  in  her  eyes,  "I  want  to  see 
the  stars  again." 

Our  brigade,  and  a  brigade  from  Gen.  Shurz'  division, 
both  under  command  of  Col.  Smith,  were  ordered  for- 
ward about  six  miles  to  a  station  called  Red-Clay,  on 
the  railroad  from  Dalton  to  Cleveland,  to  cut  and  de- 
stroy the  railroad  at  this  place.  We  arrived  at  Red- 
Clay  just  before  dark,  and  went  to  work  at  once  destrcy- 
ing  the  road,  which  was  done  most  effectually  for  about  a 
mile,  after  which  we  took  coffee  and  returned  to  Turner's 
Gap,  where  we  arrived  at  about  one  o'clock  at  night. 
Then  we  laid  down  in  a  drenching  rain  and  slept. 

On  the  next  morning,  November  28th,  the  brigade 
moved  about  two  miles  and  rested  for  the  day.  In  the 
afternoon,  our  supply  trains  arrived  from  Chattanooga, 
with  abundance  of  coffee  and  hard-bread,  and  the  army 
began  a  liberal  system  of  foraging  upon  the  country, 
taking,  through  the  quartermaster's  department,  sheep, 
9 


98  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

hogs,  corn,  hay,  cattle,  flour,  etc.,  and  giving  receipts 
to  all  loyal  owners. 

The  corps  was  now  ordered  back  to  Chattanooga,  and 
•we  were  just  congratulating  ourselves  that  our  work 
was  ended  for  awhile,  when  orders  came  for  Gen.  How- 
ard to  join  Gen.  Sherman's  column  and  march  to  the 
relief  of  Knoxville,  which  was  now  beseiged  by  Long- 
street. 


CAMPAIGN    OF    EAST    TENNESSEE. 

November  29th,  our  column  started,  and  the  first  day 
reached  Cleveland,  where  the  railroad  from  Dalton 
intersects  the  road  from  Chattanooga  to  Knoxville. 
We  were  poorly  prepared  for  such  a  campaign  as -was 
now  before  us.  All  our  tents  and  baggage  had  been 
left  behind,  and  on  going  into  the  fight  at  Mission 
Ridge  our  brigade  had  stacked  knapsacks  near  Fort 
Wood.  Thus  it  occurred  that  nearly  all  the  men  were 
without  blankets  or  other  clothing  than  that  which  they 
had  on. 

The  first  night  out,,  at  Cleveland,  was  indeed  bitter 
cold ;  but  in  the  absence  of  blankets,  the  men  built 
large  fires,  and  made  the  best  of  the  situation.  The 
welcome  of  the  Union  army  at  Cleveland,  and  all  along 
the  route,  was  such  as  to  assure  every  one  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  people  was  genuinely  loyal.  It  was 
a  new  phase  of  campaign  life  for  us  to  find  such  a  wel- 
come in  the  very  heart  of  the  South,  where  rebel  con- 
scription had  done  its  worst,  hunting  down  those  who 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  99 

could  bear  arms,  and  forcing  them  into  the  army.  Where, 
to  the  blandishments  of  political  demagogues,  had  been 
added  those  other  fashionable  and  powerful  Confederate 
arguments — the  bowie-knife  and  the  bludgeon,  blood- 
hounds and  prison  cells,  starvation  and  the  gallows. 

November  30th,  we  moved  on  to  Charleston,  on  the 
Hiawasse  River,  passing  through  a  pleasant  country, 
and  meeting  the  same  evidences  of  undoubted  loyalty. 
It  is  often  difficult  to  distinguish  between  counterfeit 
and  genuine  patriotism ;  but  these  people  were  so  sin- 
cere, and  their  joy  was  so  natural  and  honest,  so  hearty 
and  out-gushing,  and  filled  our  own  hearts  with  such 
gladness  and  pride,  that  we  could  not  meet  their  welcome 
or  listen  to  the  story  of  their  wrongs,  and  their  patriotic 
devotion,  otherwise  than  with  gladness  and  pride. 
Many  who  had  been  hiding  away  in  the  pine  woods  and 
mountains,  some  for  months  and  some  for  years,  to 
escape  the  rebel  conscription,  now,  under  the  protection 
of  our  passing  army,  came  forth  to  greet  their  families  ; 
and  there  was  joy  at  many  a  hearthstone  that  never 
can  be  told.  One  gray-haired  man  said,  "I  have  spent 
a  hundred  nights,  during  the  past  year,  carrying  food 
to  Union  men  hid  away  in  the  mountains/'  We  saw 
and  conversed  with  some  of  these  exiles,  and  were  con- 
vinced that  the  story  of  their  wrongs  and  sufferings 
had  never  half  been  told.  Great  numbers  of  old  men, 
women  and  children,  gathered  from  the  adjacent  coun- 
try along  our  line  of  march,  to  see  and  welcome  the 
Union  army.  Simple-hearted  peasantry  they  were, 
from  the  valleys  and  the  pine  hills,  rude,  and  clothed  in 
homespun  garments,  but  openly,  unswervingly,  defiantly 


100  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

loyal ;  and  the  welcome  they  gave  us,  with  words,  and 
shouts,  and  tears,  and  laughter  of  joy,  can  never  be 
forgotten. 

Noticing  the  absence  of  young  men  in  the  groups 
that  gathered  along  the  roadside,  an  officer  asked  of  a 
venerable  citizen,  "Where  are  all  jour  young  men,  sir?" 
"  Twenty  thousand  of  them  from  East  Tennessee  are 
in  your  army,  sir,"  responded  the  old  man,  as  a  thrill 
of  patriotic  pride  seemed  to  light  up  his  furrowed  face 
and  flashing  eye. 

The  enemy  had  partially  destroyed  the  railroad 
bridge  across  the  Hiawassa  River,  and  had  a  cavalry 
picket  on  the  farther  side.  Our  artillery  sent  over  a 
few  shells,  and  the  rebels  retired.  Two  regiments  were 
sent  across  the  river  that  night,  and,  at  daylight  next 
morning,  the  whole  corps  crossed  over.  Our  forces 
captured  here  a  train  of  cars,  loaded,  in  great  part, 
with  meal,  flour  and  salt ;  and  the  men  were  supplied 
with  all  they  could  carry  of  these  articles. 

December  1st,  we  passed  through  Athens — another 
pleasant  'village,  with  some  rarely-beautiful  suburban 
residences  and  a  college.  The  corps  marched  through 
the  town,  with  colors  flying,  and  bands  playing ;  the 
citizens  here,  as  elsewhere,  evincing  their  gladness  at 
our  coming. 

The  following  day,  we  mi>ved  through  Mouse-creek 
and  Sweet-water  valleys,  to  Philadelphia,  where  we  en- 
camped ;  and  then  on  again,  to  Loudon  on  the  Ten- 
nessee River,  where  our  cavalry  and  flying  artillery 
were  skirmishisg  with  the  enemy,  who  had  burned  the 
railroad  bridge  and  retired  across  the  river ;  not,  how- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      101 

ever,  until  they  had  destroyed  all  the  rolling-stock  of 
the  road  on  our  side  of  the  stream,  which  they  did  by 
running  it  (some  three  engines  and  seventy  cars)  off 
the  abutment  of  the  bridge,  where  it  fell  forty  feet  into 
the  Tennessee. 

The  army  remained  at  Loudon  until  the  morning  of 
December  5th,  when  we  again  moved  forward,  bearing 
to  the  right  and  crossing  the  Little  Tennessee  River 
just  above  its  junction  with  the  Holston.  We  passed 
through  Venicia,  the  most  loyal  town  wre  had  yet  seen, 
as  it  contained  not  a  single  rebel.  Indeed,  we  were 
assured  that,  out  of  three  hundred  voters,  there  was 
but  one  rebel  in  the  township,  so  unanimous  were  the 
people  in  their  sentiments  of  loyalty.  It  was  hard  to 
think  that  such  a  community  as  this  should  be  at  the 
mercy  of  rebel  conscripting  officers  and  tax-gatherers ; 
and  it  stirred  one's  blood  anew  to  hear  the  story  of 
wrongs  and  outrages  which  this  patriotic  people  had 
suffered, — unswerved,  however,  from  their  determina- 
tion to  maintain  their  integrity  to  the  last. 

Here,  our  army  was  regarded,  with  almost  absolute 
unanimity,  as  an  army  of  deliverance.  "This,"  said  a 
noble  woman  of  Venicia  (and  she  but  expressed  the 
almost  unanimous  sentiment  of  the  people),  "This  is 
what  we  have  been  hoping  and  praying  for,  these  two 
long,  long  years. — Thank  God,  you  have  come  at  last!" 

Thus,  our  march  was  an  almost  unbroken  ovation, — 
welcomed,  as  we  were,  by  the  fathers,  mothers  and  sis- 
ters of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  men,  who,  exiled 
from  their  homes  for  the  crime  of  patriotism,  had  rallied 
to  the  old  flag,  had  pledged  their  lives  for  the  honor 


102  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

of  that  flag,  and  the  redemption  of  their  homes  from 
the  rule  of  the  usurper. 

We  were  regarded  at  once  as  the  comrades  of  their 
dearest  friends,  as  the  defenders  of  the  right,  and  as 
the  deliverers  of  their  country  from  the  conscience- 
less and  godless  rule  of  the  official  agents  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy. 

We  were  assured,  that  not  more  than  one-fifth  of  the 
men  conscripted  in  East  Tennessee  ever  entered  the 
rebel  service, — the  remaining  four-fifths  voluntarily 
exiling  themselves,  or  entering  the  Union  army,  rather 
than  serve  a  cause  they  loathed. 

Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry  retired  before  us,  as  we 
passed  through  the  country  between  the  Holston  and 
the  Little  Tennessee — while  the  main  army  of  Long- 
street  was  beyond  the  Holston,  immediately  invest- 
ing the  defenses  of  Knoxville — we  halted  at  the 
village  of  Louisville,  only  fourteen  miles  from  the  be- 
sieged city ;  and  from  this  point,  couriers  were  sent  by 
Gen.  Sherman  to  Gen.  Burnside.  They  brought  back 
the  glad  intelligence,  that  all  the  assaults  of  the  enemy 
had  been  splendidly  repulsed  by  the  garrison  at  Knox- 
ville ;  and  that,  hearing  of  Gen.  Sherman's  approach, 
Longstreet  had  retired,  rapidly,  in  the  direction  of 
Greenville. 

From  the  impossibility  of  subsisting  his  army  in 
Northeastern  Tennessee,  even  if  he  were  allowed  to 
remain  there,  it  was  evident  that  he  must  retire  to  Vir- 
ginia by  way  of  Lynchburg,  or  cross  the  mountains 
into  North  Carolina;  in  either  of  which  events,  the 


\ 

SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      103 

services  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army  would  not  be  needed 
in  the  vicinity  of  Knoxville. 

We  remained  at  Louisville  two  days  ;  meanwhile,  our 
generals  visited  Knoxville  and  held  a  conference  with 
Gen.  Foster,  who  was  now  in  command  there. 

It  was  determined  to  leave  one  corps  with  Gen.  Fos- 
ter, and  the  rest  of  Sherman's  army  was  to  return  to 
Chattanooga.  Accordingly,  orders  were  issued  to  the 
effect  that,  having  accomplished  the  object  of  the  expe- 
dition, our  corps  would  return  to  Chattanooga  imme- 
diately;  and,  on  the  following  morning,  we  started  on 
our  return. 

We  had  been  living  splendidly  on  the  commissaries 
which  the  country  afforded,  and  rather  regretted  the 
return  to  the  land  of  hardtack  again.  The  army  had 
not  only  been  supplied  with  fresh  meat,  flour,  meal,  etc., 
but  had  also  been  able  to  procure  many  luxuries,  which 
afforded  a  pleasant  relief  from  the  dry  marching  rations 
to  which  we  had  been  so  long  confined.  And,  then, 
our  welcome  had  been  so  hearty,  the  campaign  so  in- 
teresting, and  our  experiences  generally  so  pleasant, 
that  the  dull  routine  of  camp  life  at  Chattanooga  seemed 
uninviting. 

On  our  return,  our  army  was  hailed,  as  before,  with 
the  earnest  greeting  of  thousands  of  hearts,  warm  and 
true.  The  only  anxiety  of  the  people  seemed  to  be, 
that  our  army  would  not  leave  the  country  and  expose 
them  to  incursions  from  the  enemy  again.  Only  oc- 
cupy the  country,  and  keep  the  enemy  away  from  their 
homes,  and  they  were  satisfied  to  share  with  us  their 
last  crust  of  bread.  But  they  knew  that  if  the  Union 


104  JOURNAL -HISTORY  OP  THE 

army  gave  up  the  territory,  they  would  be  more  than 
ever  at  the  mercy  of  a  vindictive  foe. 

On  the  first  day's  march  from  Louisville,  we  re- 
crossed  the  Little  Tennessee,  and  reached  the  village 
of  Sweetwater.  Then  we  moved  on  to  Athens,  where 
we  remained  three  days,  meeting  with  a  kind  reception 
from  the  citizens.  Then  on  again,  to  Charleston,  and 
to  Cleveland ;  at  which  latter  place,  we  remained  also 
three  days. 

This  march,  made  so  leisurely,  gave  the  men  abund- 
ant time  for  rest,  making  the  march  of  the  campaign 
lighter,  and  affording  us  an  opportunity  to  converse 
freely  with  citizens,  and  better  understand  the  spirit 
which  animated  the  people  of  East  Tennessee,  during 
the  memorable  reign  of  terror  of  the  first  two  years  of 
the  war.  It  was  such  an  anomaly  to  find  almost  in  the 
heart  of  the  Confederacy  a  people  so  true  to  the  old 
Government. 

Not  in  all  the  North  was  there  a  people  more  devo- 
tedly loyal  than  the  East  Tennesseeans  during  the  dark 
days  of  the  rebellion.  Tried  as  by  fire  in  the  furnace 
of  vindictive  and  relentless  persecution,  they  remained 
unswervingly  true  and  devoted  to  the  old  flag  and  the 
old  Union  of  States.  They  resisted  alike  the  blandish- 
ments, menaces  and  cruelties  of  the  agents  of  misrule, 
and  by  sacrifices  and  sufferings  that  never  can  be  told, 
attested  their  devotion  to  the  country. 

Again  we  started  for  Chattanooga,  now  only  thirty 
miles  away.  Thus  far  we  had  been  favored  with  beau- 
tiful weather.  Cold  and  frosty  the  nights  had  been, 
and  trying  to  the  men  who  were  lightly  clad  or  without 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      105 

blankets  ;  but  the  days  had  been  dry  and  clear,  and  the 
roads  in  excellent  marching  order.  But  now  we  had 
two  days  of  rain  and  mud  and  cold.  The  last  night 
was  one  of  the  most  trying  of  our  military  experience. 
From  dark  till  near  midnight  our  brigade  was  engaged 
in  getting  through  a  dark,  narrow  pass.  Then  we 
camped  in  still-water  and  mud,  mixed  with  wind  and 
rain,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  soft  slum- 
bers. Several  men  were  known  to  have  used  profane 
language  on  the  occasion — a  thing  that  rarely  occurred 
in  the  army. 

Many  of  our  men  were  suffering  for  shoes  ;  some  had 
been  barefoot  for  days.  Three  hundred  men  in  our 
corps  alone,  were  organized  into  a  barefoot  battalion ; 
and  it  made  one  think  there  was  love  of  country  still 
in  American  hearts,  to  see  those  faithful  fellows  plod- 
ding along.  Many  of  them  had  marched  more  than  a 
hundred  miles,  barefoot,  in  the  middle  of  December, 
with  feet  sore  and  bleeding.  They  illustrated,  not  un- 
worthily, the  heroism  and  endurance  of  our  revolution- 
ary fathers. 

We  crossed  the  Chickamauga,  passed  through  the 
railroad  tunnel  at  Mission  Ridge,  turned  the  point  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  and,  at  sunset,  December  17th, 
were  in  our  old  camp  in  Lookout  Valley.  Really,  it 
seemed  like  getting  home  again.  Here  were  the  huts 
of  our  old  encampment ;  here  were  the  graves  of  our 
noble  comrades  who  went  to  death  in  that  terrible  mid- 
night charge ;  and  yonder  loomed  up  to  the  very  hea- 
vens, the  brow  of  grand  old  Lookout,  from  which  now 
no  hostile  cannon  thundered  to  disturb  our  rest,  but 


106  JOURNAL- HISTORY  OF  THE 

over  which  floated  the  stars  and  stripes,  telling  the  im- 
mortal  story  of  "Hooker  fighting  above  the  clouds. " 


VETERAN   RE-ENLISTMENTS. 

On  arriving  at  Lookout  Valley,  we  found  that  a 
number  of  regiments  in  that  vicinity  had  re-enlisted  in 
the  veteran  service,  and  would  start  in  a  few  days  for 
home.  Until  now,  we  had  not  received  all  the  War 
Department  orders  concerning  re-enlistments.  But 
now,  the  matter  was  freely  canvassed  in  the  regiment, 
and  day  by  day  the  veteran  fever  rose.  On  the  30th  ot 
the  month,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  would  complete  her 
second  year  of  service,  and  be  eligible  to  re-enlist  un- 
der the  orders  inviting  veteran  reorganizations.  There 
was  a  unanimous  desire  that  the  regiment  should  not 
be  divided,  but  should  re-enlist  as  a  regiment,  with 
comparative  unanimity,  or  not  at  all.  There  were  now 
present  with  the  regiment,  or  accessible  to  it,  three 
hundred  and  fifteen  men  ;  eighty-five  of  these  had  been 
recruited  in  1862,  and  were  not  eligible  to  re-enlist- 
ment; but  Gen.  Thomas'  order  allowed  these  also  the 
benefit  of  the  veteran  furlough,  upon  pledging  them- 
selves to  re-enlist  when  they  became  eligible.  Only 
those  were  to  be  transferred  from  the  regiment  who 
were  original  members  of  it  and  did  not  choose  to  re- 
enlist. 

On  the  21st  of  December,  the  regiment  moved  to  a 

new  camp,  about  two  miles  across  the  valley,  at  the 

oot  of  Raccoon  Ridge.    Here  we  began  the  erection  of 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  107 

excellent  cabins  for  our  winter  quarters :  but  the  vet- 
eran spirit  rose  so  high,  that  preparations  for  winter 
quarters  became  a  thing  impossible.  Lieut.  Col.  Long, 
being  relieved  from  staff  duty,  returned  to  the  regi- 
ment and  assumed  command. 

Before  the  30th  of  December,  enough  men  had  sig- 
nified their  willingness  to  re- enlist,  to  allow  the  re- 
organization of  the  regiment ;  and  the  work  of  prepar- 
ing the  muster-out  rolls  of  the  old,  and  the  muster-in 
rolls  of  the  new,  was  at  once  begun.  Out  of  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty  original  members  of  the  regiment,  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  took  upon  themselves,  volun- 
tarily, the  obligations  of  two  more  years  of  hard  ser- 
vice in  the  cause  of  the  country.  This  action,  of  itself, 
was  a  proud  record  for  the  regiment,  especially  since 
the  first  two  years  had  been  years  of  hard  and  wearing 
service  at  the  front. 

On  the  1st  day  of  January,  1864,  the  regiment  was 
re-mustered ;  and  on  the  3d,  orders  were  received, 
sending  it  home  on  veteran  furlough.  This  order, 
however,  did  not  include  the  eighty-five  men  who  could 
not  re-enlist;  but  whose  written  pledge  had,  under 
Gen.  Thomas'  order,  entitled  them  to  the  furlough. 
Application  was  at  once  made  to  have  the  order  so 
amended  as  to  include  them  also.  The  eighty-five  non- 
veterans  were  transferred,  by  Gen.  Howard's  order,  to 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  New  York  Regi- 
ment. 


108  JOURNAL-HISTORY   OF  THE 


HOMEWAKD   BOUND. 

On  the  morning  of  January  4th,  the  veterans  and 
all  the  officers  of  the  regiment  started  for  Whiteside, 
where  it  was  expected  to  take  the  cars  for  Bridgeport, 
Col.  Smith  being  in  command.  No  sadder  group  of 
men  could  be  pictured  than  the  eighty-five  who  were 
to  be  left  behind ;  and  no  blither  company  could  well 
be  imagined,  than  the  veterans,  whose  hearts  had  room 
for  but  one  word,  and  that  word,  "  Home."  What  if 
there  were  no  cars  at  Whiteside? — They  could  walk  to 
]  ridgeport.  What  if  it  did  rain  that  night,  giving  us 
a  watery  bed? — Let  it  rain!  Soldiers  "going  home" 
care  little  for  wind  or  tide. 

The  regiment  arrived  at  Bridgeport,  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  5th,  and  were  compelled  to  wait  until  the  next 
day  for  a  train.  In  the  mean  time,  a  telegram  was  re- 
ceived from  Lookout  Valley,  to  the  effect  that  Gen. 
Thomas  had  amended  our  order,  and  the  men  of  1862 
were  on  the  way  to  join  us.  When  they  came,  they 
were  all  transformed  from  the  sadness  in  which  we  had 
been  compelled  to  leave  them.  We  were  stopped  sev- 
eral hours  at  Stevenson,  where  trains  were  made-up  for 
Nashville.  We  reached  Nashville  on  the  7th,  and  were 
quartered  in  the  Female  College.  The  weather  was 
bitterly  cold,  and  our  discomfort  very  great.  The  snow 
had  clogged  the  Northern  trains,  and  the  tide  of  vet- 
erans going  home  made  it  imperative  that  we  should 
"learn  to  wait."  The  regiment  reached  Louisville,  on 
the  llth,  and  Cincinnati  on  the  14th,  and  the  next  day 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  109 

arrived  at  Chillicothe,  where  we  were  welcomed  most 
kindly  by  the  authorities  and  citizens. 

The  formal  reception  took  place  in  front  of  the  Court 
House,  where  the  ladies  greeted  us  with  the  touching 
strains  of4' Sweet  Home ;"  and  an  eloquent  welcom- 
ing address  was  delivered  by  Hon.  C.  A.  Trimble, — 
responded  to  by  Col.  Smith.  After  which,  the  regi- 
ment sat  down  to  a  splendid  banquet,  at  the  Valley 
House.  And  the  citizens  vied  with  each  other  in  do- 
ing honor  to  the  veterans  who  had  represented  them 
in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Union. 

On  the  16th,  the  men  of  the  regiment  were  fur- 
loughed  for  thirty  days,  and  the  officers  ordered  on  re- 
cruiting duty. 

And  now,  for  a  month  there  was  such  a  campaign, — 
such  raids  and  expeditions, — such  foraging  upon  the 
country, — such  captures  and  imprisonments, — such  en- 
gagements and  victories,  as  are  only  known  to  the  un- 
written history  of  (very)  civil  wars.  In  this  trying 
campaign,  every  man  seemed  to  realize  his  responsi- 
bility, and  evinced  a  determination  that,  at  any  cost, 
the  country  should  be  saved.  And  how  pleasant,  after 
two  years  of  hardest  service, — how  more  than  pleasant, 
to  be  "  at  home  !"  How  absence  and  danger  and  suffer- 
ing had  strengthened  and  crystallized  our  friendship  ! 
How  hearty  and  earnest  was  our  welcome !  Warm 
hearts  and  generous  hands  gave  us  greeting  every- 
where. And  the  month  of  our  furlough  was  an  un- 
broken round  of  gladness. 


X 

110          JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


BACK  TO  LOOKOUT  VALLEY. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  the  regiment  reassembled 
at  Chillicothe  ;  and  there  were  added  to  our  number 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  new  recruits. 

On  the  next  day,  the  ladies  of  Chillicothe  presented 
the  regiment  with  a  new  and  beautiful  banner,  with  the 
names  of  the  principal  battles  of  the  regiment  inscribed 
on  it. 

On  the  18th,  we  took  the  train  for  Cincinnati.  Our 
return  to  the  field  was  without  incident  worthy  of 
notice.  The  weather  was  intensely  cold,  and  we  were 
greatly  delayed  for  want  of  transportation. 

It  was  not  until  the  2d  day  of  March  that  we  reached 
our  old  rendezvous  at  Lookout  Valley. 

Col.  Smith  had  resigned  while  the  regiment  was  at 
home,  and  Col.  James  Wood,  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-sixth  New  York,  being  the  senior  officer  in  the 
brigade,  took  command  of  it.  Lieut.  Col.  Long,  now 
the  ranking  field  officer  of  the  regiment,  was  commis- 
sioned as  Colonel;  Maj.  Hurst,  as  Lieut.  Colonel;  and 
Capt.  Higgins,  as  Major.  But  since  the  regiment  was 
reduced  below  the  minimum  number,  none  of  these  could 
be  mustered-in  to  the  rank  of  their  commissions. 


CAMP   AT   RACCOON   RIDGE. 

Upon  our  arrival,  we  began  the  construction  of  a  new 
camp.  It  was  near  our  old  one,  on  a  spur  of  Raccoon 
Kidge ;  and  when  completed,  was  second  to  none  in 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  Ill 

the  array.  We  drew  to  it  a  living  spring  from  the 
mountain-rock  above  us ;  and  for  the  next  two  months 
we  enjoyed  the  fullest  comfort  of  camp  life  in  our  vil- 
lage of  cabins  on  this  beautiful  mountain  spur.  Much 
time  was  devoted  to  drill,  brigade  and  regimental ;  but 
there  was  ample  opportunity  for  rest  and  recreation. 

The  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  corps  were  now  consoli- 
dated into  one,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Hooker ; 
Gen.  Howard  being  transferred  to  the  command  of  the 
Fourth  corps.  Our  new  corps  was  called  the  Twenti- 
eth— a  name  that  always  commanded  respect  and  con- 
fidence. Gen.  Williams  commanded  the  First  division, 
Gen.  Geary  the  Second,  and  Gen.  Daniel  Butterfield 
the  Third,  in  which  Wood's  brigade  was  placed,  being 
the  Third  brigade  of  that  division.  The  Twenty-sixth 
Wisconsin  volunteers,  Col.  Winkler  commanding,  was 
now  added  to  our  brigade.  Gen.  Butterfield,  in  the 
organization,  drill  and  command  of  his  division  evinced 
the  highest  ability  as  a  tactician  and  leader,  and  at  once 
won  the  confidence  of  his  command.  Gen.  Hooker  had 
long  commanded  the  admiration  and  confidence  of  his 
men.  Hence,  the  new  organizations  were  satisfactory 
to  all. 

Gen.  Butterfield  held  a  grand  review  and  field-day 
about  the  20th  of  April.  Gens.  Sherman  and  Thomas, 
and  a  large  number  of  spectators,  being  present  to  wit- 
ness the  pageant.  Thus  the  months  of  March  and 
April  passed  away;  and  on  the  first  day  of  May  we 
received  marching  orders.  Now  we  knew  there  was 
earnest  work  ahead,  as  we  saw  the  array,  with  a  spirit 
of  heroic  determination,  once  again  strip  for  the  fight. 


112  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 


THE  ARMY  MOVES. 

On  the  morning  of  May  2d,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio 
marched  out  of  its  pleasant  camp  with  three  hundred 
and  eighteen  guns.  Lieut. -Col.  Long  having  gone 
home  on  sick  leave,  Major  Hurst  was  left  in  command. 
The  men  were  in  excellent  condition  and  spirits,  and 
went  forth  with  a  willingness  and  a  confidence  of  suc- 
cess that  was  in  itself  a  presage  of  victory.  The 
division  moved  around  the  point  of  Lookout,  and  up 
the  Chattanooga  Valley  to  Rossville;  then  turning  to 
the  left,  bore  off  toward  the  Chickamauga. 

During  the  afternoon,  we  passed  through  a  portion 
of  the  Chickamauga  battle-ground,  and  from  the  evi- 
dences left  gleaned  some  faint  idea  of  the  fierceness  of 
the  conflict.  In  one  place,  for  half  a  mile  the  timber 
was  literally  shivered  with  shot,  shell  and  small  ammu- 
nition. The  enemy  had  held  here  a  fortified  position, 
upon  which  our  forces  had  vainly  attempted  to  advance. 
The  timber  was  completely  killed,  so  withering  and  de- 
structive had  been  the  fire.  The  graves  were  every- 
where to  be  seen  in  wood  and  field.  Most  of  the  dead 
had  been  buried  where  they  fell,  on  top  of  the  ground, 
with  only  a  thin  covering  of  earth.  Alas,  how  many  a 
hero,  "  nameless  here  forever  more,"  poured  out  his 
life/s  blood  here ! 

Our  column  halted  the  first  night  on  the  banks  of 
West  Chickamauga,   at  Lee  &  Gordon's   mills.     Gen. 
Davis'   division    of    the    Fourteenth    corps   was  jus 
moving  from  this  point  on  to  Ringgold.     Our  division 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      113 

halted  here  for  a  day,  then  crossed  the  Chickamauga, 
and  moved  on  to  the  vicinity  of  Ringgold,  camping  in 
the  woods  near  Vine  Run.  Here  again  we  halted 
for  a  day,  and  sent  to  the  rear  for  storage  most  of  the 
limited  amount  of  baggage  with  which  we  had  started: 
only  one  "  tent-fly  "  being  allowed  to  a  regiment. 

We  are  but  a  few  miles  now  from  the  enemy,  and 
there  is  already  skirmishing  between  the  outposts  of 
the  two  armies.  The  "Army  of  the  Cumberland"  is  all 
gathered  in  around  Ringgold.  Gen.  Schofield  is  com- 
ing down  from  Knoxville  with  the  "Army  of  the  Ohio," 
and  Gen.  McPherson  is  coming  from  the  West  with  the 
"Army  of  the  Tennessee.'''  Thus,  the  grand  army  of 
Sherman  is  gathering  for  the  fight. 

May  6th,  we  bivouac  at  Leet's  farm;  and  on  the  7th 
moved  through  a  gap  called  Nickajack  Trace — then  up 
a  valley  six  miles,  where  we  crossed  Taylor's  Ridge,  at 
Gordon's  Gap.  At  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  at  the  farther 
side,  we  passed  a  very  romantic  watering-place  named 
Gordon's  Springs.  Taking  the  direction  of  Dalton,  we 
camped  for  the  night  four  miles  from  Buzzard's  Roost. 


ROCKY-FACED   RIDGE. 

Sunday  morning,  May  8th,  Col.  Wood  was  sent  for- 
ward with  his  brigade  on  a  reconnoisance.  As  we  ap- 
proached Buzzard's  Roost,  a  very  high  hill,  a  mile  in 
our  left  front,  was  discovered  to  be  occupied  by  a  con- 
siderable body  of  troops.  Every  eye  was  strained  to 


114  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

see  the  foe,  and  every  heart  beat  quick  as  orders  were 
given  to  prepare  for  work.  Flankers  were  thrown  out, 
and  our  skirmishers  were  pushed  forward,  and  just  as 
the  brigade  was  going  to  advance  to  feel  the  enemy,  it 
was  found  that  the  hill  was  held  by  men  in  blue  blouses. 
It  was  the  head  of  Gen.  Palmer's  column  of  the  Four- 
teenth corps;  and  instead  of  going  into  battle,  we 
shook  hands  with  our  old  friends  of  the  gallant  Thirty- 
third  Ohio. 

The  gap  called  Buzzard's  Roost  lay  to  our  right 
front,  a  mile  and  a  half  distant.  Here  it  was  under- 
stood the  enemy  were  in  position.  That  position  it 
was  the  business  of  our  brigade  to  develop  ;  and  so  it 
was  at  once  formed  in  order  of  battle.  The  Seventy- 
third  Ohio  went  forward  in  support  of  the  skirmishers. 
When  we  reaehed  a  hill  half  a  mile  in  advance,  we  were 
halted  until  the  brigade  came  up.  Skirmishing  now 
began,  and  was  kept  up  with  spirit;  and  the  enemy's 
line  and  position  gradually  became  apparent. 

Two  mountains,  lofty  and  rugged,  seem  to  meet 
here,  forming  an  obtuse  angle  toward  the  position  we 
occupy.  At  their  junction  is  a  gap,  half  a  mile  wide. 
The  gap  is  yet  a  hundred  feet  or  more  above  the 
surrounding  country,  and  the  re  stands  a  hill  of  nearly 
the  same  hight  just  in  front  of,  and  masking  it, 
This  hill  was  held  by  the  rebel  skirmishers ;  and  we 
could  see  that  the  gap  had  a  continuous  and  formidable 
line  of  works.  This  gap  is  "Buzzard's  Roost;"  and 
the  mountain  whose  summit  it  divides  is  Rocky-faced 
Ridge. 

Two  companies  of  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  were  in 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      115 

the  skirmish  line  of  the  brigade,  and  four  more  were 
now  sent  forward  as  a  reserve.  Brisk  skirmishing  was 
kept  up  during  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  in  the  after- 
noon our  skirmishers  crossed  a  small  creek,  charged 
and  took  the  hill  in  front  of  the  gap.  driving  the  rebel 
skirmishers  back,  with  a  loss  of  eight  men  in  our 
brigade. 

The  enemy  did  not  make  a  very  spirited  resistance, 
and  at  four  o'clock,  when  the  artillery  of  the  Four- 
teenth corps  opened  on  their  works,  their  cannon  did 
not  reply.  It  was  as  if  they  would  say,  "  We  are  not 
very  strong;  come  along,  and  take  us!"  It  was  the 
old  invitation  of-the  spider  to  the  fly. 

Very  few  men  could  be  seen  about  the  gap,  and  it 
was  evident  the  enemy's  main  force  was  not  at  Buz- 
zard's Roost.  Still,  one  division  could  have  held  the 
gap  against  a  whole  army.  Late  in  the  afternoon  there 
was  heavy  fighting — infantry  and  artillery — a  few  miles 
to  the  right.  It  proved  to  be  Gen.  Geary,  making  a 
daring  attack  and  receiving  a  bloody  repulse  at  Dug 
Gap.  At  dark  the  Seventy-third  was  relieved,  and 
moved  back  with  the  brigade  some  three  miles  to  biv- 
ouac. Early  on  the  following  morning  our  brigade 
was  ordered  to  the  front  again,  and  again  our  regiment 
was  sent  to  the  skirmish  line.  We  built  a  bridge  across 
the  narrow  creek,  and  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  and 
Thirty-third  Massachusetts  crossed,  and  pushed  their 
line  up  the  side  of  the  mountain  on  the  right,  and  over 
the  hill  in  front  of  the  gap.  The  enemy  kept  up  just 
enough  fire  to  repeat  their  invitation  of  yesterday.  At 
noon  our  brigade  was  relieved  by  Carlin's,  of  the  Four- 


116  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

teenth  corps,  and  we  withdrew,  having  but   one   man 
wounded  in  the  Seventy-third. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  May  llth,  the  Twentieth 
corps  moved  in  the  direction  of  Snake  Creek  Gap. 
Gen.  McPherson,  with  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
had  passed  through  the  gap,  and  made  a  reconnoisance 
as  far  as  Resacca;  but,  fearing  for  the  safety  of  his 
communications,  had  retired  again  to  the  vicinity  of  the 
Gap.  Our  corps  halted  for  the  night  in  the  gap,  and 
next  day  worked  on  the  roads,  so  that  our  trains  could 
pass  through.  Then  we  moved  on  through  the  gap, 
and  came  up  with  Gen.  McPherson's  army,  seven  miles 
from  Resacca.  The  enemy  is  concentrating  there, 
while  our  main  army  is  moving  around  through  the 
gap.  May  13th,  we  go  forward  again — the  Twentieth 
corps  on  the  left  of  Gen.  McPherson.  The  enemy  has 
left  Buzzard's  Roost  and  Dalton,  and  Gen.  Howard 
pushes  down  the  railroad  after  them.  The  Fourteenth 
corps  comes  in  on  our  left;  and  our  lines  are  pushed 
forward,  driving  the  enemy  into  his  fortified  posiiton 
at  Resacca. 


BATTLE  OF  RESACCA. 

The  rebel  lines  form  an  irregular  semi-circle  of  sev- 
eral miles  in  length,  with  the  right  resting  on  the  river 
above,  and  the  left  below  Resacca.  After  resting  on 
arms  all  night,  we  began  skirmishing  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th.  The  enemy  had  been  busy  all 
night  fortifying.  We  could  hear  thousands  of  axes 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  REGIMENT.  117 

going  all  the  night  long.  This  day  there  was  consider- 
able fighting  on  our  left — parts  of  the  Fourth,  Four- 
teenth and  Twentieth  corps  being  engaged.  Our  divi- 
sion remained  in  line  all  day,  and  at  night  dug  rifle-pits. 
We  are  quite  close  to  the  rebel  works,  and  our  skir- 
mishers talk  with  theirs  across  a  little  valley  of  two 
hundred  yards'  width.  One  could  hear  from  the  hill- 
side conversation  something  like  this.  Yank  says : 
"Johnny  Reb  1  0  John!  got  anything  to  eat  over 
there? — got  any  corn  bread?"  Reb  replies:  uYes; 
come  over  and  get  some.  Say !  are  you  Hooker's 
men? — where's  Old  Joe  ?"  "O,  he's  'raound  ;  you've 
heard  of  old  Joe,  have  ye  ?"  And  again  :  "  Say,  Yank  ! 
did  you  make  anything  on  the  left  to-day?"  "Yes; 
we  made  a  h — 1  of  a  noise."  "  O,  Reb  !  what's  you- 
'uns  goin'  to  do  to-morrow  ? — goin'  to  fight  we'uns  ?" 
"  Say,  Yank !  got  anything  to  trade  ?"  And  occasionally 
the  characteristics  of  the  chivalry  came  out  in  this  style  : 
"  0,  Yank!  is  your  captain  a  white  man  or  a  nigger?" 
**  Say  !  got  any  commissary  over  there  ? — pass  over 
your  canteen."  And  thus,  for  hours,  there  would  be  a. 
skirmish  of  words,  sometimes  pungent,  but  often  good- 
natured. 

About  midnight,  and  just  as  we  were  finishing  our  line 
of  rifle  pits,  we  were  ordered  to  move.  The  brigade 
withdrew  half  a  mile  to  the  rear  and  rested  till  daylight. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  our  division  moved 
to  the  left,  passing  in  rear  of  our  circling  lines.  At 
ten  o'clock  we  had  reached  the  extreme  left  of  our 
army  lines,  and  waited  an  hour  or  two  while  the  artil- 
lery and  ammunition  were  brought  forward.  Our  divi- 


118  JOURNAL- HISTORY  OF  THE 

sion  was  massed,  and  it  was  understood  that  Butterfield 
was  to  try  his  skill  to-day.  The  programme  was  finally 
announced.  Ward's  First  brigade  was  to  attack.  Wood's 
Third  brigade  to  support,  and  Coburn's  Second  brigade 
to  be  held  in  reserve.  When  our  brigade  reached  its 
position  for  deployment,  we  were  ordered  to  form  by 
battalion  "en  echelon"  and  being  on  the  left  of  the 
brigade,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  thrown  far  out 
into  the  woods  on  the  left.  Our  skirmishers  soon  re- 
ported the  rebel  skirmishers  close  at  hand,  and  a  con- 
siderable body  of  the  enemy  moving  to  the  right  over 
the  open  ground,  half  a  mile  in  our  front.  Just  as  we 
were  ready  to  advance,  orders  were  given  to  change 
the  formation  of  the  brigade  to  two  lines  "en  echelon;" 
in  the  execution  of  which  there  was  some  confusion,  as 
the  orders  were  not  conveyed  to  all  the  regiments. 
When  we  went  forward,  it  was  but  a  short  space  to 
a  wooded  hill,  held  by  the  rebel  skirmishers.  The 
brigade  charged  this  hill,  driving  the  rebels  back  to 
their  fortified  line,  some  three  hundred  yards  beyond ; 
and  now  the  fire  came  in  so  sharply,  on  our  left  flank, 
that  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  ordered  to  change 
front  to  the  left.  The  right  of  the  brigade  having  a 
continuous  covering  of  woods,  pressed  forward  close  up 
to  the  enemy's  works ;  but  there  was  open  ground  in 
front  of  the  left  and  center,  from  the  hill  just  taken,  to 
the  enemy's  line  of  works.  Two  hundred  yards  from 
the  left  of  our  brigade,  was  another  woods,  from  which 
the  enemy's  skirmishers  now  annoyed  our  flank.  A 
heavy  fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides ;  in  maintaining 
which,  the  Fifty-fifth  Ohio  had  both  its  field  officers 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      119 

(Col.  Gambee  and  Maj.  Robbins)  killed.  Halfway  across 
the  field,  in  front  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Ohio  and  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-sixth  New  York,  there  was  a  deep  hol- 
low or  ravine ;  and  these  regiments  were  ordered  for- 
ward to  that  position.  In  reaching  it,  they  received  a 
most  murderous  fire,  and  lost  heavily.  The  Seventy- 
third  remained  in  position  in  its  new  front,  until  Gen. 
Knipe's  brigade  arrived  on  the  ground,  and  was  then 
ordered  to  join  to  the  left  of  the  brigade,  prolonging 
its  line  up  the  ravine.  In  accomplishing  this,  we  had 
to  pass  over  a  hundred  paces  of  open  ground,  fully  ex- 
posed to  the  rebel  fire.  We  went  forward  in  line,  on 
the  run,  but  lost,  unavoidably,  quite  a  number  killed 
and  wounded. 

When  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  reached  its  position  on 
the  left  of  the  Fifty-fifth,  a  New  York  regiment  of 
Geary's  division  was  occupying  the  ground,  having 
passed  up  the  ravine  from  the  right.  They  were  lying 
down,  in  line,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  where  they  could 
not  fire  upon  the  enemy.  Their  colonel  refused  to  ad- 
vance to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  where  an  effective  fire 
could  be  delivered ;  and  our  commander  ordered  the 
Seventy-third  to  advance  through,  or  over  their  line. 
This  touched  the  pride  of  the  New  York  soldiers,  and, 
without  command,  their  whole  line  rose  up  and  ad- 
vanced with  ours  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  where  the  two 
regiments  together  poured  in  a  vigorous  fire  for  an 
hour  or  two,  when  the  New  York  battalion  withdrew 
from  the  ravine. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Twenty-third  corps  had  come 
in  on  our  left,  had  crossed  the  open  ground  and  pushed 


120  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

close  up  to  the  enemy's  works.  They  had  been  warmly 
engaged,  and  had  been  compelled  to  retire.  In  follow- 
ing them  when  they  withdrew  from  the  woods  on  our 
left,  the  enemy  came  within  a  hundred  paces  of  gain- 
ing our  flank ;  so  they  could  have  completely  enfiladed 
our  line  in  the  ravine. 

Twice  the  foe  came  out  of  their  works  in  our  front, 
with  the  manifest  intention  of  charging  our  line ;  once 
they  got  within  a  hundred  paces,  but  our  hail  of  bullets 
drove  them  back  with  loss.  Gen.  Knipe  had  formed 
his  brigade  on  the  wooded  hill  in  our  rear,  and  now 
opened  fire  over  our  heads.  The  enemy  answered  his 
fire,  and  the  two  storms  of  lead  made  the  air  musical 
above  us.  The  rebel  artillery  from  the  fort,  three  hun- 
dred yards  in  our  right  front,  poured  over  us  their  case 
shot  and  canister ;  and  when  the  enemy  on  our  left, 
following  the  Twenty-third  corps,  had  gained  our  flank 
so  as  to  almost  completely  enfilade  our  line,  we  were 
never  more  nearly  surrounded  by  the  elements  of  wrath. 

It  was  a  most  trying  moment;  but  the  regiment,  and 
indeed  the  whole  brigade,  stood  to  the  work,  and  held 
the  left  firmly.  Thus  was  the  fight  maintained  till  sun- 
set, when  we  were  relieved  by  Geary's  men,  and  with- 
drew about  a  mile  to  the  rear,  where  we  rested  for  the 
night.  The  enemy  evacuated  their  works  during  the 
night,  and  retreated  across  the  river  at  Resacea. 

Thus,  the  battle  of  Resacca  was  sanguinary,  but  in- 
decisive ;  the  enemy,  having  fought  behind  works 
escaped  with  no  great  loss,  while  the  mere  barren  vic- 
tory was  to  us  dearly  bought.  Still,  it  was  a  victory, 
and  we  thanked  God  for  that. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  121 

The  Twentieth  corps  did  most  of  the  fighting  in  this 
engagement,  and  suffered  more  than  all  the  others  com- 
bined. The  loss  of  our  brigade  was  very  heavy ;  our 
own  regiment  having  ten  men  killed  and  forty-two 
wounded.  Our  wounded  were  cared-for  attentively; 
and,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  a  detail  was 
sent  from  the  regiment,  by  which  our  dead  were  de- 
cently buried  on  the  ground  where  they  fell.  And  the 
division  was  soon  pushing  forward  in  pursuit  of  the  foe 

Gen.  Butterfield  complimented  our  regiment  highly, 
for  its  gallantry  in  the  battle  at  Resacca,  and  the  brigade 
commander  reported,  officially,  that  the  Seventy-third 
Ohio  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  New  York 
had,  at  a  critical  moment,  saved  the  day  from  being  a 
disaster  to  our  arms. 


ON   TO   CASSVILLE. 

The  Twentieth  corps  halted  some  hours,  on  the  bank 
of  the  Connesauga  River,  just  above  Resacca.  Later  in 
the  day,  we  crossed  that  river,  and,  moving  in  a  south- 
easterly direction,  at  midnight  reached  the  Coosawattee 
at  a  ferry ;  crossed  on  a  flat-boat,  and  bivouacked  on 
the  farther  bank  of  the  stream. 

This  day,  we  were  joined  by  Capt.  Talbott,  with  sixty- 
two  recruits  just  from  Ohio.  These  men  were  the  major 
part  of  one  of  the  "  thirty  companies"  which  Governor 
Brough  was  authorized  to  raise  during  the  spring  of 
1864.  The  company  had  been  organized  before  leav- 
ing the  State ;  but  as  we  had  ten  other  companies  iii 

10     • 


122  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  regiment,  and  there  had  been  no  order  for  consoli- 
dation, it  was  determined  to  distribute  these  recruits 
among  the  old  companies,  and  assign  the  officers  to 
duty  there  also, — at  the  same  time,  maintaining  the 
rank  of  the  non-commissioned  officers  in  the  companies 
to  which  they  were  assigned. 

The  main  force  of  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  river 
at  Resacca,  burning  the  bridge  after  them.  A  pontoon 
was  hastily  thrown  across  the  stream,  and  most  of  our 
army  crossed  there  also. 

On  the  next  day,  our  corps  marched  about  fifteen 
miles,  and  camped  in  the  neighborhood  of  Adairsville. 
The  whole  army  is  pressing  forward,  in  three  or  four 
columns,  and  the  enemy  is  falling  back. 

The  Twentieth  corps  pursued  its  march,  without  in- 
terruption, till  the  afternoon  of  the  18th,  when  our 
route  led  through  an  extensive  woodland.  Here  the 
road  ran  upon  a  high  ridge,  and  the  enemy  had  thrown 
up  temporary  breastworks,  from  behind  which  they 
skirmished,  evidently  with  the  purpose  of  delaying  our 
column.  Our  division  skirmished  with  them  until  after 
night,  and,  early  the  next  morning,  moved  forward  in 
order  of  battle, — the  enemy  retiring  before  our  line 
with  but  little  resistance. 

Coming  to  an  open  country,  Gen.  Ward's  brigade 
bore  to  the  left,  while  Col.  Wood's  went  to  the  right 
and  in  the  direction  of  Kingston,  which  was  only  a  few 
miles  away. 

When  we  had  gone  a  couple  of  miles,  we  discovered 
quite  a  body  of  troops  a  short  mile  in  our  left  front. 
They  were  moving  in  the  same  direction  as  ourselves, 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  123 

and  it  was  at  first  supposed  to  be  Gen.  Ward's  brigade. 
But,  just  as  they  rose  upon  a  small  hill  beyond  Nancy's 
Creek,  another  column,  coming  from  the  direction  of 
Kingston,  met  the  one  we  had  first  seen ;  and  directly 
we  knew  there  was  some  misapprehension.  The  troops 
we  could  see  went  up  the  hill  on  the  double-quick,  and 
the  batteries  went  into  position  in  quicker  time  than 
that,  and  directly  the  entire  hill  was  bristling  with  bay- 
onets. Still,  we  could  scarcely  believe  these  men  were 
"Graybacks."  Staff  officers  looked  through  their 
glasses,  and  decided  that  the  uniforms  of  these  strange 
forces  looked  "blue;"  while  others  began  to  entertain 
a  suspicion  that  the  situation  of  our  brigade  was  some- 
what of  the  same  color.  The  Seventy-third  Ohio  was 
in  advance  of  the  brigade,  marching  in  line  across  a 
large  wheatfield,  scarcely  half  a  mile  from  the  hill  on 
which  these  mysterious  demonstrations  were  b#ing 
made.  Our  skirmishers  were  two  hundred  yards  in 
advance  of  the  regiment,  when  a  line  of  skirmishers  was 
discovered  advancing  to  meet  us,  and  we  knew  certainly 
they  were  foes. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  we  were  so  close  upon 
a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  it  was  considered  prudent 
to  retire  with  some  rapidity ;  and,  while  falling  back, 
three  men  of  the  regiment  who  were  on  the  skirmish 
line  were  cut  off  and  captured.  Our  brigade  was  com- 
pletely isolated,  and  the  rebels  might  have  almost 
crushed  it  at  a  blow  ;  but  they  seemed  perfectly  willing 
to  "let  us  alone,"  if  we  would  be  equally  generous. 

The  brigade  retired  to  a  commanding  position,  at  a 
farm  house  about  a  mile  from  the  hill  held  by  the  foe, 


I 


124  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  hurriedly  threw  up  temporary  breastworks.  Here 
we  waited  the  coming  forward  of  the  other  brigades  of 
our  division. 

The  enemy  were  now  discovered  to  be  moving  in  the 
direction  of  Cassville  ;  and  Gen.  Butterfield,  after  send- 
ing his  compliments  in  a  few  shells,  pushed  out  after 
them.  Half  a  mile  out,  our  line  became  engaged  in  a 
warm  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  and  a  number  of  men 
in  the  brigade  were  wounded.  In  an  hour  or  so,  how- 
ever, the  rebel  skirmishers  withdrew.  Col.  Wood's 
brigade  was  now  formed  into  column  by  battalion  in 
mass ;  and,  with  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  deployed  in 
advance,  moved  in  the  direction  of  Cassville.  The 
other  brigades  and  divisions  of  our  corps  were  closing 
in,  and  there  was  promise  of  a  fight  or  a  race. 

We  moved  through  the  burning  woods  which  the  re- 
tirinrg  enemy  had  fired.  We  pushed  forward,  through 
fire  and  smoke  almost  suffocating,  pressing  our  way 
through  thick  underbrush  for  a  mile,  when  we  came  out 
of  the  woods ;  and  just  before  us  lay  the  village  of 
Cassville. 

Our  skirmishers  quickly  engaged  those  of  the  enemy, 
who  were  secreted  in  the  houses  of  the  town ;  and  our 
line  pushed  forward  until  we  got  possession  of  the  Fe- 
male Seminary,  and  commanded  the  village,  through 
which  the  rear  of  the  rebel  column  was  just  passing. 
Gen.  Geary  closed  in  on  our  left,  and  a  lively  skirmish 
was  kept  up  from  that  direction.  A  section  of  artillery 
was  brought  forward  to  Seminary  Hill,  and  the  Seventy- 
third  Ohio  was  ordered  to  its  support.  A  spirited 
artillery  duel  now  occurred,  the  rebel  guns  on  the  hill 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  125 

beyond  the  town  replying  to  the  fire  of  our  own,  with 
wonderful  accuracy.  The  enemy  evidently  did  not 
wish  to  fight — only  to  cover  their  retreat.  At  dusk, 
they  withdrew  from  the  town,  and  it  was  occupied  by 
the  Second  brigade  of  our  division. 

We  now  moved  back,  two  miles  from  Cassville,  and 
encamped  on  Nancy's  Creek ;  and  the  whole  army 
rested  for  the  three  succeeding  days. 

Kingston  and  Rome  are  in  possession  of  the  Union 
forces.  The  rebels  have  made  good  their  retreat  across 
the  Etowa,  or,  as  the  natives  call  it,  the  "High  Tower" 
River.  They  are  making  Allatoona  Pass  a  stronghold. 
There  Gen.  Johnston  will  make  another  stand ;  and 
Sherman's  brain  and  Sherman's  army  must  work,  before 
Allatoona  is  won. 

The  railroad  bridge  at  Resacca  has  been  rebuilt,  and 
the  train  comes  puffing  and  screaming  into  Kingston, 
before  the  place  has  been  in  our  possession  forty-eight 
hours. 


FLANKING  ALLATOONA. 

On  Monday  morning,  May  23d,  the  march  was  again 
resumed.  The  Twentieth  corps  had  the  advance  ;  and, 
instead  of  following  the  railroad  up  and  across  the  Eto- 
wa, we  turned  to  the  right,  and  our  course  was  down 
the  river  ten  miles,  where  a  pontoon  was  thrown  across 
the  stream.  We  crossed  the  river  that  night,  followed 
immediately  by  the  Twenty- third  corps,  and  soon  by 
the  main  army ;  only  a  small  force  being  left  to  con- 
front the  enemy  at  Allatoona  Pass. 


126  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Here,  along  the  Etowa,  are  some  of  the  finest  farm- 
ing lands  in  Georgia.  It  is  really  a  rich  and  beautiful 
section  of  country,  and  the  farmers  have  in  store  great 
quantities  of  corn,  cotton,  wheat,  bacon,  melasses,  etc. 

May  24th,  the  army  moved  forward  again,  turning 
the  Allatoona  Mountains,  and  taking  the  road  to  Dallas, 
a  town  near  the  railroad,  and  far  in  the  rear  of  Alla- 
toona Pass.  After  leaving  the  valley  of  the  Etowa, 
our  route  lay  over  a  series  of  pine  ridges,  picturesque 
and  grand  beyond  any  we  had  yet  seen.  When  we  had 
moved  some  six  or  eight  miles  through  this  noble  col- 
umnar forest,  the  cavalry  in  our  advance  began  to 
skirmish  with  the  enemy.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  But- 
terfield's  division  was  drawn  off  the  main  Dallas  road  to 
the  left,  at  a  commanding  place  called  "Burnt  Hick- 
ory." On  the  following  morning,  the  march  was  re- 
sumed toward  Dallas ;  but  the  main  roads  being  occu- 
pied by  other  advancing  columns,  our  division  was 
halted  and  rested  some  hours,  taking  an  early  dinner; 
and  then,  moving  to  the  left,  we  crossed  Pumpkin-vine 
Creek,  and  came  out  on  the  main  road,  five  miles  from 
Dallas. 


BATTLE  OF  NEW  HOPE  CHURCH. 

Here  we  learned  that  the  head  of  column  of  our  corps 
had  been  stopped  by  the  appearance  of  the  enemy  in 
our  front  in  formidable  numbers.  The  advance  brigade 
of  Geary's  division  had  engaged  the  rebel  cavalry  about 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      127 

eleven  o'clock,  and  had  driven  them  a  mile  orjnore, 
when  they  found  themselves  engaging  a  superior  force 
of  infantry,  and  in  turn  were  driven  back.  The  «nemy 
did  not  pursue  them,  but  remained  on  the  defensive, 
and  at  once  began  to  fortify  their  position  across  the 
main  road,  on  which  the  Twentieth  corps  was  advanc- 
ing. Prisoners  taken  reported  about  one  -half  of  the 
rebel  army  in  our  immediate  front,  and  the  remainder 
coming  from  Allatoona  to  join  them. 

It  was  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  the  Third 
division  arrived  upon  the  ground  where  the  engage- 
ment had  occurred  in  the  morning,  and  where  skirmish- 
ing was  still  going  on  ;  and  from  the  manner  in  which 
the  Twentieth  corps  was  being  hurried  forward,  there 
was  strong  indications  that  work  was  to  be  done.  We 
were>  it  seemed,  in  the  midst  of  an  extensive  forest,  the 
ground,  in  every  direction,  being  heavily  timbered. 
Our  division  was  massed  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and 
awaited  orders. 

Gen.  Williams  arrived  with  his  First  division,  and 
took  the  advance,  and  several  pieces  of  artillery  were 
sent  to  the  front.  There  was  some  delay  in  making 
dispositions  for  battle,  and  we  were  massed,  and  de- 
ployed, and  marched  backward  and  forward,  until 
about  five  o'clock,  when,  all  things  being  ready,  the 
Twentieth  corps  moved  forward  to  the  attack.  The 
First  division  held  the  advance,  the  Second  supported, 
and  the  Third  was  held  in  reserve.  The  rebel  line 
being  formed  across  the  road,  with  the  extreme  right 
and  left  pushed  a  little  forward,  formed  a  kind  of  semi- 
circle, into  which  our  attacking  force  advanced,  and  the 


128  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

struggle  that  ensued  was  most  fierce  and  deadly.  The 
enemy  had  made  good  use  of  the  hours  since  the  morn- 
ing skirmish,  in  building  breastworks,  and  in  planting 
and  masking  cannon  ;  so  that  he  was  enabled,  without 
much  loss  to  himself,  to  deliver  a  most  effective  and 
murderous  fire,  almost  annihilating  the  battalions  which 
thus  advanced  upon  him  in  open,  bold  and  shelterless 
attack.  When  the  battle  had  raged  at  the  front  for 
some  time,  with  a  fierceness  that  told  all  too  plainly  how 
merciless  and  deadly  was  the  strife,  the  Third  division 
was  ordered  forward.  It  was  a  mile  from  where  we 
had  been  massed  in  reserve  to  the  front  line  of  battle. 
Our  brigade,  which  was  the  last  of  the  division,  crossed 
to  the  left  of  the  road,  and  deployed.  The  Fifty-fifth 
Ohio  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  New  York 
formed  the  first  line ;  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  and 
Thirty-third  Massachusetts,  the  second ;  and  the 
Twenty-sixth  Wisconsin,  the  third.  The  brigade  thus 
formed,  with  the  right  touching  the  road,  moved  for- 
ward, and  as  we  approached  the  scene  of  action,  we 
were  the  more  deeply  impressed  that  an  obstinate  and 
bloody  conflict  was  being  maintained  in  our  front.  We 
were  now  within  range  of  the  bullets  and  shells  of  the 
enemy,  and  expecting,  in  a  few  minutes,  to  be  engaged. 
The  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  on  the  left  of  the  second 
line  of  the  brigade,  and  flankers  had  been  thrown  out. 
These  flankers  suddenly  became  engaged  in  a  sharp 
skirmish,  and  the  enemy's  fire  came  sweeping  down  our 
line.  A  continuous  rebel  line  of  battle  was  now  dis- 
covered on  our  immediate  left,  and  as  the  road  at  this 
point  bore  away  to  the  right,  if  we  went  forward  this 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY. 

rebel  force  would  be  in  our  rear.  Thus,  it  became 
necessary  for  us  to  confront  the  force  whose  position 
we  had  developed,  and  whose  fire  now  enfiladed  our 
line.  The  Seventy-third  was  now  ordered  to  change 
front,  and  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  was  sent  for- 
ward. The  enemy  was  very  near,  and  his  main  line 
was  protected  by  incomplete  breastworks.  A  brisk 
skirmish  was  kept  up  for  some  minutes,  when  the 
brigade  commander  sent  orders  for  the  regiment  to 
advance,  and  attack  the  enemy  in  its  front-:  True,  it 
seemed  like  madness  for  a  single  regiment,  without 
connections  right  or  left,  to  move  upon  an  extended 
line  of  the  enemy,  when  that  line  was  protected  by 
temporary  breastworks  ;  but  the  order  was  peremp- 
tory, and  must  be  obeyed. 

Accordingly,  the  skirmishers  were  called  in,  and  the 
battalion  ordered  forward.  We  had  not  advanced  fifty 
paces  when  we  were  greeted  by  a  volley  from  the  ene- 
my's line  of  battle.  Under  such  a  fire  as  now  poured 
in  upon  us,  it  was  simply  impossible  to  advance ;  at 
best,  we  could  only  maintain  our  position,  and  return 
the •  enemy's  fire.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Thirty-third 
Massachusetts  changed  front,  and  came  in  on  our  left, 
prolonging  our  line  of  battle,  and  adding  their  fire  to 
our  own.  The  Seventy-third  was  greatly  exposed,  and 
suffered  severely  from  the  bitter  fire  it  was  compelled 
to  receive.  Lieut.-Col.  Hurst  was  wounded  early  in 
the  fight,  and  the  command  of  the  regiment  devolved 
on  Major  Higgins.  Captain  Hinson  and  Lieut.  Davis 
were  also  wounded  severely,  and  many  in  the  ranks 
were  falling,  and  being  borne  to  the  rear.  It  seemed  a 
11 


130  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

worse  than  useless  sacrifice  of  life  to  attempt  thus  to 
maintain  an  open  fight  against  a  fortified  foe,  when  it 
Was  literally  impossible  for  us  to  advance.  But  brigade 
orders  were  imperative  that  this  unequal  fight  should 
be  continued;  and  so  the  regiment  stood  to  the  work, 
though  with  rapidly  thinning  ranks.  Just  at  dark,  the 
Seventy-third  Ohio  was  relieved  by  the  Twenty-sixth 
Wisconsin ;  and  the  fire  continued  for  a  time,  until,  by 
common  consent,  the  general  engagement  ended.  Our 
forces  were  withdrawn  a  short  distance,  a  continuous 
line  of  battle  formed,  and  a  line  of  works  hastily  con- 
structed. During  that  night  and  the  next  day,  the 
most  of  our  army  came  forward ;  and  the  hosts  of 
Sherman  and  Johnston  again  stood  face  to  face. 

In  this  engagement,  called  the  battle  of  "  New  Hope 
Church,"  or  by  some  "Burnt  Hickory,"  or  "Dallas," 
the  Twentieth  corps  fought  alone,  sustaining  a  loss  of 
two  thousand  five  hundred  men  killed  arid  wounded. 
Some  of  the  advance  regiments  in  the  First  division 
were  almost  annihilated  by  the  enemy's  canister.  The 
Seventy-third  Ohio  had  gone  into  the  fight  with  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  had  suffered  a  loss  of  sev- 
enty-two men  in  killed  and  wounded.  Most  bitter  to 
us  was  the  belief  that  this  great  sacrifice  had  been  un- 
necessarily made.  Gen.  Hooker  had  himself  opposed 
making  the  attack,  as  he  was  convinced  the  enemy  were 
present  in  greatly  superior  numbers,  and  had  chosen 
and  partially  fortified  their  own  ground.  But  he  was 
overruled,  and  ordered  to  give  battle  against  his  judg- 
ment; and  though  the  corps  fought  with  a  spirit  and 
bravery  unsurpassed,  it  availed  nothing,  only  it  devel- 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      131 

oped  the  position  and  strength  of  the  foe,  which  could 
have  been  accomplished. by  one  brigade,  and  with  little 
loss. 

The  two  armies  now  confronted  each  other  in  defiant 
attitude.  We  were  almost  ten  miles  from  the  railroad, 
the  nearest  station  being  Ackworth.  Our  army  base 
was  at  Kingston,  twenty-four  miles  distant.  Gen. 
McPherson  came  in  on  our  right,  and  occupied  Dallas ; 
and  now,  for  several  days,  the  combatants,  on  either 
side,  stood  to  their  guns  with  constant  watchfulness, 
and  the  expectation  of  the  renewal  of  the  fight.  There 
were  dashes  and  charges  made  to  gain  a  position,  or 
break  a  line ;  but  as  the  assailed  were  always  ready,  no 
advantage  was  gained.  Five  days  after  the  battle,  our 
wounded  were  sent  back  to  Kingston.  Large  trains  of 
ammunition  and  supplies  were  brought  forward,  and 
our  army  began  a  general  movement  to  the  left,  with 
the  object  of  gaining  the  railroad.  It  was  difficult  to 
let  go  our  hold  upon  the  right,  and  arduous  work  to 
fortify  a  continuous  line  to  the  left.  Yet  slowly  and 
steadily  this  movement  went  on.  Thus  lapping  over 
and  pressing  forward  our  left,  the  enemy  was  compelled 
to  conform  to  the  movements  of  the  Union  army,  and 
change  the  front  of  his  army  lines  to  the  right.  Both 
armies  kept  constantly  and  strongly  fortified.  The  ax 
and  spade  were  incessantly  at  work,  and  every  move- 
ment was  made  with  great  caution. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  our  cavalry  reached  the  rail- 
road, and  the  enemy  yielded  Allatoona  and  Ackworth. 
The  weather  was  now  very  unfavorable.  Day  and 
night  the  rain  poured  in  torrents.  The  roads  were 


132  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

almost  impassable,  and  artillery  and  wagons  "  swamped 
down"  in  the  fields  and  woods.  Burnside  was  never 
more  completely  u  stuck  in  the  mud." 

The  enemy  had  fallen  back  to  the  line  of  Lost  Moun- 
tain and  Pine  Mountain.  Our  generals  supposed,  in- 
deed, that  he  had  retired  beyond  the  Chattahoochee ; 
and  with  that  view  Gen.  Sherman  issued  his  order 
making  dispositions  for  future  movements.  But  the 
rain  still  continued  to  pour  in  floods,  and  the  order  was 
necessarily  countermanded.  The  railroad  bridge  across 
the  Etowa  was  repaired,  and  the  army  received  its  sup- 
plies from  Allatoona.  Gen.  Blair  arrived  at  Ackworth 
with  two  divisions  of  the  Seventeenth  corps ;  and  the 
Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  corps  also  swung  around  to 
the  left. 

June  15th,  there  was  some  fighting  on  our  left,  and 
the  enemy  yield  Pine  Mountain.  In  the  afternoon, 
Butterfield's  division  moved  to  the  right  and  forward, 
crossing  the  works  of  the  Twenty-third  corps  on  the 
Sandtown  road,  and  encountering  the  enemy  a  mile  in 
front  of  those  works.  The  division  was  massed  in  a 
wheat  field,  and  dispositions  made  for  an  attack. 


ENGAGEMENT  NEAR  LOST  MOUNTAIN. 

The  division  moved  forward,  the  Third  brigade  sup- 
porting the  First  in  the  attack.  We  were  welcomed 
with  a  furious  cannonade — the  case-shot  and  shell 
crashing  through  the  timber,  and  scattering  the  frag- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  133 

ments  over  us  indiscriminately.  The  First  brigade 
pushed  forward  close  up  to  the  rebel  works.  They 
had  some  sharp  fighting,  and  lost  seventy  men ;  only 
two  in  our  regiment  were  wounded.  During  the  night 
we  rested  on  our  arms,  while  Col.  Coburn,  who  had 
relieved  Gen.  Ward,  kept  up  a  continuous  and  heavy 
skirmish  fire  in  our  front.  Early  the  next  morning, 
Wood's  brigade  completed  a  line  of  works,  and  they 
were  extended  right  and  left — the  Twenty-third  corps 
joining  us  at  the  Sandtown  road.  Occasionally  the 
rebel  batteries,  scarcely  four  hundred  yards  in  our 
front,  would  open  upon  us  spitefully,  and  the  case  and 
shell  would  come  screaming  through  the  woods,  blazing 
and  thundering  over  our  heads  in  a  way  that  was  alto- 
gether ugly. 

On  the  night  of  June  16th,  our  brigade  moved  to  the 
left,  and  relieved  Gen.  Ward.  Our  line  was  very  close 
to  the  enemy's,  both  being  strongly  fortified.  At  day- 
light the  next  morning,  the  rebel  skirmish  fire  ceased, 
and  directly  the  shout  of  our  own  men  told  that  the 
foe  was  gone.  At  once  everything  was  put  in  readi- 
ness to  follow  them.  The  skirmishers  of  our  brigade 
crossed  the  abandoned  works  of  the  enemy,  and  pushed 
forward  two  miles,  capturing  a  rebel  battle-flag,  and  a 
few  prisoners.  Our  column  followed  rapidly,  and 
about  two  miles  out,  the  enemy  again  disputed  our 
advance. 

The  Twentieth  corps  now  took  position  on  a  com- 
manding ridge,  only  three  miles  from  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain. From  this  splendid  position,  we  could  overlook 
the  whole  ground  occupied  by  the  contending  armies. 


134  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  Fourth  corps  pushed  up  on  our  left,  and  had  some 
warm  work;  while  the  skirmishers  of  the  Twentieth 
kept  up  a  lively  chorus,  and  our  cannon  shelled  the 
low-lying  woods  between  Kenesaw  and  Lost  Mountains. 
Here  we  went  into  bivouac,  and  rested  two  days — if  it 
may  be  called  resting,  lying  on  the  ground  in  a  drench- 
ing rain,  with  our  cannon  shaking  the  earth  beneath  us. 


BATTLE  DAYS  IN  FRONT  OF  KENESAW. 

Again  the  enemy  fell  back,  giving  up  Lost  Mountain, 
and  throwing  his  left  back  toward  the  river.  His  lines 
now  formed  a  semi-circle  in  front  of  Marietta,  with  the 
stronghold  of  Kenesaw  Mountain  in  his  right  center. 

Again  our  division  went  forward,  and,  crossing  a 
swollen  creek  with  difficulty,  pushed  out  about  a  mile ; 
and  without  supports  or  connections,  charged  the 
enemy  in  the  woods,  and,  after  a  brisk  fight,  drove 
back  their  advanced  line.  In  this  bold  adventure 
of  Butterfield's  division,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  lost 
sixteen  men  killed  and  wounded.  Captain  J.  C.  Mc- 
Common  was  very  severely  wounded  while  leading  his 
men  on  the  skirmish  line.  On  the  following  day,  our 
division  supported  the  First  division  in  a  movement  on 
the  right — made  to  gain  a  commanding  position,  and 
enable  Gen.  Schofield  to  cross  the  creek. 

June  21st,  our  division  supported  Gen.  Geary  in  an 
advance  on  the  right;  and  the  Fourth  corps  came  up, 
and  connected  with  our  left  again.  On  the  22d,  there 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  135 

was  a  general  movement  of  the  Twentieth  corps.  Gens. 
Geary  and  Williams  gained  a  commanding  ridge  on  our 
right ;  and  Butterfield  charged  up  to  within  four  hun- 
dred yards  of  the  enemy's  main  works — driving  their 
skirmishers  from  a  fortified  position  back  upon  their 
main  line,  and  occupying  and  converting  their  defenses 
into  a  continuous  line  of  loyal  breastworks. 

The  charge  of  Wood's  brigade  was  a  most  daring  feat 
of  arms.  At  the  left  of  the  brigade  the  works  of  the 
rebel  skirmishers  were  taken  and  retaken  several  times, 
but  finally  held  by  our  men.  The  brigade  suffered 
considerable  loss  in  this  daring  charge ;  the  Seventy- 
third  Ohio  losing  four  men  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 


AT  THE  POWDER-SPRING  ROAD. 

In  the  afternoon,  we  were  relieved  by  the  Fourth 
corps,  and  moved  hurriedly  to  the  right,  where  the 
enemy  had  assumed  the  offensive,  and  the  situation  was 
reported  critical.  We  arrived,  just  at  dark,  in  rear  of 
the  First  division,  and  learned  that  the  rebels  had  made 
a  bold  assault  upon  our  lines  there  before  they  were  for- 
tified, with  the  design  of  driving  back  our  right,  and 
retaining  possession  of  the  Powder-spring  road,  across 
which  our  lines  were  just  forming.  They  attacked 
boldly,  but  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss. 

The  following  morning,  our  division  moved  still  fur- 
ther to  the  right,  and  relieved  a  division  of  the  Twenty- 
third  corps  at  the  Powder-spring  road — pushed  forward 


136  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

half  a  mile,  and  built  a  double  line  of  works.  Gen. 
Schofield,  with  the  Twenty-third  corps,  kept  pushing 
out  still  further  to  the  right. 

On  the  27th,  occurred  the  memorable  assault  on  the 
rebel  works,  in  front  and  to  the  right  of  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  which  was  repulsed  with  such  heavy  loss. 
No  part  of  our  corps  participated  in  the  assault.  We 
simply  kept  up  a  heavy  fire,  to  hold  the  enemy  in  our 
front  while  the  assault  was  being  made.  This  direct 
assault  having  failed,  we  were  ordered  to  be  ready  to 
march,  with  eight  days'  rations.  But  the  rations  were 
not  forthcoming,  and  we  did  not  march. 

A  heavy  flank  movement  on  the  right  was  being  at- 
tempted, and  the  whole  army  of  the  Tennessee  swung 
round  from  the  left  to  the  right. 

July  1st,  there  was  heavy  firing,  all  along  our  lines, 
to  hold  the  enemy  in  his  intrenchments  while  the  army 
moved  to  the  right.  On  this  day,  Gen.  Butterfield  re- 
linquished the  command  of  our  division.  His  depar- 
ture was  deeply  regretted,  by  officers  and  men  alike. 

The  rebel  commander  evidently  understood  the  move- 
ment on  his  flank  and  threatening  his  communications  ; 
and,  on  the  night  of  July  2d,  he  yielded  his  strong  po- 
sition and  formidable  works  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and 
fell  back  toward  the  Chattahoochee  River. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  Twentieth  corps 
moved  forward  to  within  a  mile  of  Marietta,  where  the 
Third  division  had  a  sharp  skirmish  with  the  enemy's 
rear  guard.  Learning  that  Marietta  was  already  occu- 
'pied  by  the  Fourth  corps,  our  division  turned  to  the 
right,  and  followed  closely  the  retiring  enemy.  Gen. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      137 

Ward,  who,  as  the  ranking  officer,  had  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  our  division,  pursued  the  enemy  vigor- 
ously ;  and,  about  noon,  came  upon  them  in  a  chosen 
position.  The  rebel  artillery  opened  upon  our  advance, 
and  skirmishing  became  lively.  We  were  at  once  de- 
ployed in  order  of  battle,  and  were  just  ready  to  move 
upon  the  enemy,  when  Gen.  Hooker  arrived  and  se- 
verely rebuked  his  subordinate  for  his  imprudence. 

In  the  afternoon,  we  were  relieved  by  the  Fourteenth 
corps,  and  moved  to  the  right  and  across  Nickajack 
Creek. 

July  4th,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  and  Twenty-sixth 
Wisconsin  were  ordered  on  a  reconnoisance  to  the  right, 
to  open  communication  with  the  Twenty-third  corps. 
We  returned  at  noon,  and  the  whole  corps  moved  some 
three  miles  to  the  right,  closing  on  the  left  of  the 
Twenty-third.  The  skirmishers  of  the  two  corps  held 
a  line  along  Nickajack  Creek. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  some  officers  discovered  a 
force  across  the  creek,  moving,  as  they  thought,  toward 
the  position  we  occupied;  and  at  once  orders  were 
given  to  prepare  for  battle.  The  whole  line  threw  up 
temporary  breastworks,  and  Gen.  Williams  trained  his 
cannon  on  the  force  across  the  creek.  Suddenly  it  was 
discovered  to  be  the  Sixteenth  corps,  which  had  crossed 
the  creek  farther  down. 

That  night,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  held  an  im- 
promptu celebration  of  the  National  Anniversary.  A 
number  of  short  speeches  were  made,  and  the  band 
played  national  airs  and  home  melodies,  calling  back 
into  memory  the  pleasant  associations  of  the  peaceful 


138  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

past,  and   awakening  in  our  hearts  new  longings  for 
home. 

On  the  next  day,  our  division  moved  down  and  across 
Nickajack  Creek,  to  a  position  only  four  miles  from 
the  Chattahoochee. 

July  6th,  we  move  two  miles,  and  camp  on  a  wooded 
hill,  where  we  have  a  splendid  view  of  the  valley  of  the 
Chattahoochee ;  and  where,  only  ten  miles  distant 
across  the  valley,  we  can  plainly  see  the  spires  and 
turrets  of  the  coveted  city  of  Atlanta. 


ACROSS   THE    CHATTAHOOCHEE. 

The  enemy  retired  across  the  river,  holding,  how- 
ever, a  position  at  the  railroad  bridge  for  several  days. 
The  army  rested  now  for  a  short  time.  The  Twentieth 
corps  remained  in  camp  here  ten  days.  The  army  of 
the  Tennessee  swung  round  to  the  left  again,  and 
moved  up  the  river  to  Rosswell.  The  Fourth  and 
Twenty-third  corps  crossed  the  river  near  the  railroad 
bridge,  which  the  enemy  had  destroyed;  and,  on  the 
17th  of  July,  our  corps  also  crossed  on  a  pontoon  near 
Pace's  Ferry. 

The  next  day,  we  pushed  on  across  Nancy's  Creek, 
and  connected  with  the  Fourth  corps  at  Buckhead. 
McPherson's  army  reached  to  Decatur.  The  army  of 
the  Ohio  came  in  on  his  right ;  while  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland  reached  from  Buckhead  to  the  railroad. 
And  now,  forming  a  complete  semi-circle  north  of  the 
city,  with  its  flanks  resting  across  the  railroad  east  and 


SEVENTY-THIRD    OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  139 

west,  and   its    communications    established,  our  army- 
closed  in  on  the  doomed  city. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  our  division  moved 
across  Peach-tree  Creek.  Gen.  Geary  had  already 
crossed,  on  our  right ;  and  Newton's  division  of  the 
Fourth  corps,  on  our  left ;  and  both  had  fortified.  We 
were  halted  at  the  foot  of  the  first  range  of  hills,  three 
hundred  yards  from  the  creek,  about  the  same  distance 
in  rear  of  Geary  and  Newton,  and  masking  the  interval 
between  them. 


BATTLE  OF  PEACH-TREE  CREEK. 

It  was  understood  that  our  entire  corps  would  ad- 
vance its  lines,  at  two  o'clock.  About  one  o'clock, 
however,  while  the  First  division  was  moving  into  posi- 
tion on  the  right  of  the  Second,  and  we  were  awaiting 
preparations  for  the  advance,  the  skirmish  fire  suddenly 
grew  warm  in  our  front.  The  enemy  were  reported 
advancing,  in  two  lines,  to  attack  us,  and  our  skirmish- 
ers were  falling  back. 

Our  battalions  at  once  sprang  to  arms,  and,  as  soon 
as  orders  could  be  obtained,  the  first  line  of  our  brigade 
went  forward.  It  reached  the  top  of  the  first  range  of 
hills,  just  as  our  skirmishers  began  to  retire  from  the 
second,  three  hundred  yards  in  front.  The  line  pushed 
forward  two  hundred  yards  to  a  ravine,  where,  meeting 
the  retreating  skirmishers,  the  battalions  were  halted, 
and  the  men  lay  down. 

On  came  the  rebel  lines,  sweeping  everything  before 


140  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

them,  shouting  and  cheering  in  the  fullness  of  their 
enthusiasm.  On  they  came,  over  the  second  hill  and 
down  almost  to  the  ravine, — when  our  men  suddenly 
rose  up,  and  poured  into  their  ranks  a  most  murderous 
volley.  Many  of  them  fell,  some  tried  to  hide  in  the 
ditches  on  the  hillside,  and  others  went  back.  Then 
our  line  charged  up  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  continued 
to  deliver  a  rapid  and  telling  fire  on  the  retreating  foe. 

The  Seventy-third  Ohio  was  in  the  second  line  of  the 
brigade,  which  was  soon  ordered  to  relieve  the  first  line. 
We  went  forward,  amid  a  shower  of  balls  from  the 
enemy,  and  were  welcomed  with  a  shout  by  our  com- 
rades. We  at  once  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy,  who 
was  now  trying  to  take  shelter  in  the  woods  to  our 
right  and  left  front ;  the  ground  in  our  immediate  front 
being  open  for  half  a  mile.  We  held  this  position  dur- 
ing the  afternoon,  all  the  time  delivering  and  receiving 
a  heavy  fire. 

In  the  meantime,  the  battle  raged  all  along  the  lines 
of  our  corps,  and  Newton's  division  of  the  Fourth  corps. 
Charge  after  charge  was  made,  to  break  our  lines ;  but 
in  vain.  Newton  was  strongly  fortified,  and  Geary  par- 
tially so ;  but  the  divisions  of  Ward  and  Williams  had 
met  and  repulsed  the  foe,  in  open  ground.  They,  of 
course,  lost  heavily,  as  the  battle  was  hotly  contested. 

Our  victory  was  as  complete  as  the  battle  had  been 
earnest.  The  enemy's  loss  was  very  heavy,  being  esti- 
mated by  themselves  at  six  thousand  men.  In  our 
division  front,  the  ground  was  literally  strewn  with 
their  dead  and  wounded ;  and  of  one  regiment,  the 
Thirty-third  Mississippi,  there  were  left  upon  the  field 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  141 

thirteen  commissioned  officers,  and  a  proportional  num- 
ber of  men  killed  and  wounded. 

In  this  engagement,  the  Seventy-third  Ohio  lost 
eighteen  men  killed  and  wounded.  Our  brigade  lost 
one  hundred  and  forty-three  ;  our  division,  five  hundred 
and  twenty ;  and  the  corps,  seventeen  hundred.  Our 
division  captured  seven  battle-flags,  and  many  prison- 
ers,— most  of  the  rebel  wounded  falling  into  our  hands. 

Here  we  learned,  from  prisoners  and  Atlanta  papers, 
that  Gen.  Johnston  had  been  superseded  in  the  com- 
mand of  the  rebel  army,  by  Hood;  and  that  he  pro- 
posed to  hold  and  defend  Atlanta  to  the  last.  He  had 
begun  his  administration  by  this  day  taking  the  offen- 
sive. Whether  he  will  improve  on  Johnston's  tactics, 
remains  to  be  seen.  Surely,  this  day's  fight  was  a  bad 
beginning. 

July  21st,  we  rest  and  bury  our  dead,  and  the  dead 
of  the  enemy  within  our  lines.  Their  wounded  are  also 
sent  to  our  hospitals. 

During  the  last  night,  the  enemy  retired  to  his  line 
of  works,  about  a  mile  in  our  front,  and  about  three 
miles  from  the  city. 

Gen.  McPherson  was  now  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  the  city  at  the  northeast  side,  and  had  thrown  some 
shells  inside  the  corporate  limits. 

At  night,  the  enemy  abandoned  the  works  in  our 
front;  and  early  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  our  line 
pressed  forward, — each  division  striving  to  reach  the 
city  first ;  all,  alike,  believing  that  Atlanta  had  been 
evacuated.  But,  half  way  to  the  city,  we  again  en- 
countered the  rebel  skirmishers,  and  slowly  pressed 


142  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

them  back  on  their  last  line  of  forts  and  breastworks 
around  the  city.  Then  a  connected  line  was  formed, 
and  fortifications  hastily  thrown  up.  The  enemy  were 
in  their  " last  ditch;"  and  already  our  Parrot  shells 
were  screaming  through  the  Gate  city. 


SIEGE    OF   ATLANTA. 

Toward  noon,  we  heard  heavy  firing  on  the  extreme 
left  of  our  army  lines ;  and,  in  the  afternoon,  there 
were  rumors  of  hot  and  disastrous  work  in  that  direc- 
tion. But,  when  the  official  news  came  the  next  day, 
we  learned  that  a  threatened  defeat  was  turned  into  a 
signal  victory, — resulting  in  terrible  loss  to  the  enemy. 
Hood  had  massed  his  forces  on  McPhersori's  left,  and 
was  rapidly  gaining  his  rear ;  he  was  driving  every- 
thing before  him,  and  had  captured  a  large  portion  of 
McPherson's  artillery,  when  the  tide  of  battle  changed 
and  the  splendid  valor  of  our  troops  snatched  victory 
from  defeat,  and  drove  the  enemy  back  again  with 
great  slaughter. 

This  triumphant  issue  of  battle  was  deeply  saddened, 
however,  by  the  loss  of  many  brave  and  true  men, — 
chief  among  whom  was  the  gallant  McPherson  himself. 

On  the  following  day,  our  brigade  was  moved  to  the 
extreme  right  of  the  corps,  where  it  supported  a  bat- 
tery near  the  railroad.  This  battery  had  some  spirited 
duels  with  a  fort,  some  four  hundred  yards  in  our  front, 
and  sent  into  the  city  the  regards  of  a  twenty-pound 
Parrot,  every  five  minutes,  day  and  night. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.       143 

On  the  24th,  the  brigade  built  a  new  line  of  works, 
yet  closer  to  the  enemy.  We  remained  in  this  position 
until  the  28th;  meanwhile,  the  army  of  the  Tennessee, 
with  Gen.  Howard  in  command,  had  moved  from  the 
left  to  the  extreme  right. 

Having  cut  the  Augusta  railroad  at  Decatur,  and  our 
cavalry  having  destroyed  it  still  farther  east,  Gen. 
Sherman  now  began  a  movement  to  the  right,  so  as  to 
cut  the  only  other  road  leading  into  Atlanta. 

While  the  army  of  the  Tennessee  was  moving  into 
position,  however,  on  the  28th,  the  enemy  attacked 
fiercely  our  extreme  right  and  flank.  The  right  was 
promptly  refused,  and  the  enemy  welcomed  with  even 
a  more  decisive  result  than  on  the  22d,  though  the  en- 
gagement was  not  so  general.  The  enemy  suffered 
greatly,  and  was  most  bitterly  repulsed ;  while,  owing 
to  the  advantage  of  ground,  and  covert  of  timber  and 
temporary  breastworks,  our  loss  was  comparatively 
slight.  The  news  of  this  engagement  was  also,  at 
first,  unfavorable  ;  and,  supposing  Gen.  Howard  hardly 
pressed,  Ward's  division  of  the  Twentieth  corps  was 
ordered  to  move  rapidly  to  his  support.  When  we  had 
marched  a  mile  or  two,  however,  we  were  met  with  the 
glad  news  of  a  victory,  and  returned  to  our  old  place 
again.  On  this  day,  Gen.  Hooker  took  leave  of  the  old 
Twentieth  corps.  He  had  been  ignored  and  refused 
admittance  to  the  confidence  and  counsels  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man, all  through  the  campaign ;  and  now,  the  placing 
of  a  junior  officer  over  him  in  the  assignment  to  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  had  wounded 
him  so  deeply,  that  he  felt  he  could  no  longer  be  dis- 


144  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

honored.  His  parting  interview  with  the  general  and 
field  officers  of  the  corps,  will  long  be  remembered. 
No  general  in' Sherman's  army  was  so  endeared  to  his 
officers  and  men ;  no  one  approached  him  in  popular- 
ity ;  that  was  perhaps  the  reason  his  rank  and  ability 
were  not  recognized.  Gen.  Williams  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  corps. 

On  the  next  day,  July  29th,  the  Third  division  moved 
about  four  miles  to  the  right,  and  supported  Gen.  Jeff. 
C.  Davis'  division,  in  a  reconnoisance  on  the  flank, 
reaching  the  position  desired  with  only  skirmishing  in 
front.  It  was  a  commanding  position  on  the  road  from 
Atlanta  to  Sandtown,  and  to  the  right  front  of  the  Fif- 
teenth corps.  Here  we  built  defenses,  and  bivouacked 
for  the  night.  We  had  now  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
the  battle-ground  of  yesterday  ;  and  hundreds  of  rebel 
dead,  yet  unburied,  attested  the  terrible  punishment 
inflicted  on  the  foe.  It  was  sad  to  look  upon  the  wind- 
rows of  dead,  even  though  they  were  enemies ;  for  we 
knew  that  many  had  persuaded  themselves  that  they 
were  dying  in  a  noble  cause ;  that  the  breaking-up  of 
the  "best  Government  the  sun  of  heaven  ever  shone 
upon,"  and  establishing,  in  its  stead,  an  empire  of 
slaves,  was  doing  God  and  humanity  service ;  and  so, 
died  with  a  heroism  worthy  of  a  better  cause, — while 
hundreds  of  others,  loathing  the  cause  into  which  they 
had  been  conscripted,  and  longing  to  go  back  to  their 
homes  and  enjoy  the  prosperity  and  happiness  that 
rested  on  the  land  in  the  peaceful  old  days  of  the 
Union ;  still,  driven  on  by  reckless  and  conscienceless 
leaders,  and  by  a  kind  of  sense  of  personal  honor  which 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      145 

prompts  a  man  to  die  like  a  man,  even  in  an  ignoble 
cause,  went  to  their  death  unswervingly. 

Gen.  Hood's  third  attack  had  thus  been  bitterly 
repulsed;  and  altogether,  in  ten  days,  he  had  lost 
scarcely  less  than  20,000  men — about  one  third  of  his 
entire  army.  His  men  said  he  had  but  one  or  two  ukil- 
lins"  left.  On  the  next  day,  our  division  moved  out 
on  the  Sandtown  road  a  mile  or  two,  and  went  into  camp. 
We  remained  here  several  days,  guarding  the  right 
flank  of  the  grand  army. 

August  1st,  our  brigade  supported  a  reconnoisance 
to  the  front,  made  by  Gen.  Davis,  while  the  Fifteenth 
corps  advanced  its  lines,  and  built  new  works. 

The  Twenty-third  corps  now  changed  position  to  the 
extreme  right,  thus  relieving  our  division,  and  we  re- 
turned to  the  old  position  near  the  railroad.  August 
3d,  Ward's  division  relieved  a  part  of  the  Fourteenth 
corps,  which  also  went  to  the  right.  We  found  two 
lines  of  works  already  built  in  the  position  assigned  to 
Wood's  brigade ;  and  at  once  began  building  another. 
Taking  advantage  of  darkness,  we  steadily  pushed  for- 
ward o^r  lines,  which  had  to  be  under  constant  cover 
of  works,  until  we  had  constructed  four  new  lines  of 
works,  and  were  within  rifle  range  of  the  enemy's  main 
line  of  battle.  We  were  in  a  very  exposed  position. 
A  constant  fire  of  sharp-shooters  and  skirmishers  was 
kept  up  for  many  days  and  nights  ;  and  in  the  daytime, 
the  rebel  forts  thundered  at  us  with  shot  and  shell,  and 
the  hail  of  lead  fell  thick  over  all  the  ground  occupied 
by  our  brigade.  Almost  every  day  our  regiment  fur- 
nished one  or  more  victims  for  this  useless  and  cruel 
12 


146  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

fire  of  skirmishers.  Among  them,  Lieut.  I.  N.  Haw- 
kins was  most  dangerously  and  painfully  wounded. 

By  the  10th  of  August,  we  had  pushed  our  lines  as 
close  upon  the  enemy's  works  as  it  was  possible  to  do; 
and  our  army  had  reached  out  to  the  right  as  far  as  it 
could  go,  and  maintain  its  present  lines  of  supply  and 
communication ;  and  now,  for  a  fortnight,  we  held  on 
to  our  grasp  upon  the  foe,  our  cannon  hurling  tons  of 
iron  into  the  besieged  city,  and  our  infantry  pressing 
the  rebel  lines  at  every  point.  'Still,  they  held  on  to 
the  "Gate,"  and  hurled  back  their  responses  to  our 
guns,  sometimes  throwing  from  their  siege  guns  im- 
mense missiles,  which  the  boys  familiarly  called  "  camp- 
kettles." 

Thus  we  lay  under  this  interminable  fire  of  small- 
arms,  accompanied,  in  the  daytime,  by  artillery  duels, 
that  shook  the  very  earth,  keeping  ourselves  always 
ready  for  a  charge.  Thus,  for  more  than  a  month,  our 
army  had  partially  encircled  the  doomed  city;  and 
pressed  every  point  on  their  line  to  compel  the  evac- 
uation of  the  place. 


SHERMAN'S  TACTICS. 

Finally,  Gen.  Sherman  determined  on  another  grand 
flank  movement;  and  on  the  night  of  August  25th,  we 
quietly  withdrew  from  our  lines.  The  whole  army, 
except  the  Twentieth  corps,  moved  to  the  right,  cutting 
loose  from  their  base,  crossing  the  West  Point  Railroad, 
and  moving  so  as  to  strike  the  Macon  road  near  Jones- 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      147 

boro'.  Our  corps  retired  to  the  Chattahoochee,  and 
established  a  defensive  line,  so  as  to  protect  the  railroad 
and  our  depots  of  supplies  at  Marietta  and  at  the  Chat- 
tahoochee bridge.  Our  division  was  stationed  at  Tur- 
ner's Ferry,  and  at  once  fortified  the  position  strongly; 
and  it  was,  indeed,  a  great  relief  to  get  away  from  the 
hail  of  lead  and  iron  at  Atlanta,  and  to  lay  down  at 
night,  as  we  had  not  done  for  a  month,  without  the 
sound  of  small-arms  or  the  booming  of  cannon  to  dis- 
turb our  rest. 

On  the  27th,  Gen.  Slocum  took  command  of  the 
Twentieth  corps.  Our  division  lines  were  formed  in  a 
semi-circle  around  the  ferry,  and  Gen.  Slocum  had  just 
finished  the  circuit  of  them,  when  a  body  of  rebels,  that 
had  been  reported  menacing  our- lines  in  the  morning, 
opened  fire,  and  drove  in  our  pickets.  They  also 
brought  a  section  of  artillery  to  bear  upon  us,  from  a 
commanding  hill,  and  shelled  us  quite  briskly.  Fol- 
lowing our  retiring  pickets,  they  charged  forward 
almost  to  our  main  line;  but  when  they  discovered  that 
line,  they  went  back  as  rapidly  as  they  came,  and  their 
whole  force  retired  again  toward  Atlanta. 

The  enemy  appear  to  have  been  completely  misled 
by  Gen.  Sherman's  movements,  and  for  a  while,  were 
quite  sure  he  had  retired  from  Atlanta,  and  abandoned 
the  siege  altogether.  The  Atlanta  papers  were  jubilant 
over  this  view  of  the  situation.  During  the  night  of 
September  1st,  there  were  sounds  as  of  artillery  in  the 
distance ;  and  in  the  morning,  Col.  Coburn,  of  the  Sec- 
ond brigade  was  sent  with  a  detail  from  the  division,  of 
eight  hundred  men,  on  a  reconnoisance  toward  the  city. 


148  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


ATLANTA   OURS. 

Finding  no  enemy,  save,  some  cavalry  scouts  and 
skirmishers,  Col.  Coburn  pushed  on  into  the  city,  the 
cavalry  retiring  before  his  skirmisl^line.  And  so,  at 
last,  Atlanta  is  ours.  The  rebel  infantry  had  evacuated 
the  place  the  night  before ;  the  sounds  we  heard  as  of 
cannon,  being  the  explosion  of  great  stores  of  artillery 
ammunition,* which  they  themselves  destroyed.  Three 
trains — eighty-four  cars  in  all — loaded  with  artillery 
ammunition,  ordinance  and  other  war  material  were 
destroyed  by  them,  together  with  four  engines,  and  an 
extensive  foundry,  where  vast  amounts  of  ammunition 
for  cannon  had  been  manufactured. 

Meanwhile,  Gen.  Sherman  had  thrown  his  main  army 
on  the  railroad  near  Jonesboro',  twenty-five  miles  from 
Atlanta — had  fought  an  important  battle— had  driven 
the  enemy,  and  destroyed  the  road ;  thus  necessitating 
the  evacuation  of  Atlanta  by  Gen.  Hood.  On  the  2d, 
Gen.  Sherman,  believing  that  Hood's  main  army  was  in 
the  vicinity  of  Jonesboro',  sent  orders  to  Gen.  Slocum 
to  "feel  the  enemy  at  Atlanta."  The  courier  found 
Gen.  Slocum  comfortably  quartered  in  the  city,  and 
returned  to  Jonesboro'  with  the  news,  which  caused 
great  joy  throughout  the  army. 

September  4th,  our  brigade  was  moved  to  the  de- 
fenses of  Atlanta,  and  assigned  a  position  in  the  line  on 
a  wooded  hill,  south-east  of  the  city. 

Two  companies  of  the  Seventy-third  Ohio,  in  the 
detachment  of  Col.  Coburn,  to  whom  the  city  was  sur- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  149 

rendered,  were,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Downing, 
deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  were  the  first  Union  sol- 
diers to  enter  the  city.  We  found  the  defenses  of  the 
place  very  formidable,  indeed.  In  many  places  they 
seemed  absolutely  to  defy  all  human  skill  and  courage. 
An  assault  could  only  have  proven  an  immense  slaughter. 


CAMPING  AT  ATLANTA. 

Gen.  Sherman  having  accomplished  the  object  of  his 
unprecedented  campaign,  now  ordered  the  army  back 
from  Jonesboro'.  The  Army  of  the  Ohio  went  to  De- 
catur;  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  to  East  Point;  and 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  grouped  in  and  around 
Atlanta :  and,  by  the  9"th  of  September,  the  whole  army 
was  resting  from  its  labors. 

It  was  exactly  four  months  from  the  day  we  left 
Lookout  Valley  till  our  forces  entered  Atlanta  in  tri- 
umph ;  and  during  these  four  months,  there  was  one 
unbroken  strain  of  every  power,  mental  and  physical. 
The  two  armies  had  grappled  each  other  in  an  un- 
resting struggle  for  the  mastery,  doing  everything 
which  generalship  could  devise,  or  heroism  and  endu- 
rance execute.  From  Rocky-faced  Ridge  to  Jones- 
boro' was  one  vast  battle-field — a  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  long.  Almost  every  farm  was  ribbed  with  rifle- 
pits,  and  every  field  and  wood  made  historic  with  the 
graves  of  heroes.  But  over  this  vast  field,  and  through, 
or  over,  or  around  its  apparently  impregnable  natural 
barriers,  and  chains  of  most  formidable  works,  the 


150  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

clear  brain,  and  indomitable  will  of  Sherman,  with  the 
splendid  valor  and  patient  endurance  of  his  resistless 
army  had  steadily  borne  back  the  foe,  until  the  goal 
was  won.  And  the  rebel  army,  all  shattered  and  sad- 
dened by  disaster  and  defeat,  saw  all  their  sacrifices 
rendered  vain,  as  the  grand  army  of  Sherman  marched 
in  triumph  into  Atlanta,  or  gathered  in  groups  around 
it,  to  rest  on  the  laurels  of  tteir  victorious  campaign. 

In  this  wonderful  campaign,  our  corps,  division, 
brigade  and  regiment  had  borne  a  full  share  of  the 
arduous  work,  and  suffered  most  severely.  The  Sev- 
enty-third Ohio  lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  two 
hundred  and  ten  men  and  eight  officers.  The  regiment 
had  made  an  honorable  record  on  every  field  where  it 
had  been  called  upon  to  battle,  and  fully  sustained  the 
character  of  a  veteran  battalion. 

We  built  us  a  splendid  camp  on  the  wooded  hill  to 
which  we  had  been  assigned  as  a  link  in  the  chain  of 
Atlanta  defenses.  And  now,  for  two  months,  we  rest 
from  the  labors  and  struggles  of  the  field.  Army 
orders  are  issued  for  the  hurrying  forward  of  supplies, 
and  preparations  are  begun  for  a  "fine  winter  cam- 
paign." Forrest  and  Wheeler,  with  their  cavalry 
commands,  began  attracting  attention  to  Tennessee, 
threatening  seriously  our  lines  of  communication. 
Several  divisions  of  infantry  were  sent  from  Atlanta 
and  disposed  so  as  protect  the  road,  and,  if  possible, 
entrap  one  of  these  raiders. 

About  the  first  of  October,  Gen.  Hood  cut  loose  from 
his  base  at  Macon,  crossed  the  Chattahoochee,  moved 
around  Marietta,  and  struck  the  railroad  near  Ack- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.   -  151 

worth.  He  had  with  him  only  about  30,000  troops, 
but  they  were  stripped  of  all  incumbrances,  and  pre- 
pared for  rapid  movements. 

Sherman  watched  his  movements  closely,  and  imme- 
diately set  in  motion  all  his  army,  saving  the  Twentieth 
corps,  which  was  left  to  garrison  Atlanta.  He  rested 
his  head  of  column  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  strongly 
guarded  the  Chattahoochee]  bridge.  Hood  moved 
against  Allatoona,  and  was  welcomed  by  Gen.  Corse,  in 
command  at  the  Pass.  Hood  assaulted  the  place  with 
three  divisions ;  but  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  a 
thousand  men.  He  now  moved  around  to  the  left  of 
the  Allatoona  Mountains,  and  marched  on  Rome.  Gen. 
Sherman  pushed  on  to  Kingston  and  Rome ;  while 
Hood  swung  around  them,  and  again  struck  the  rail- 
road, tearing  up  twenty-five  miles  of  the  track,  and 
capturing  the  small  garrisons  at  Dalton  and  Tilton. 

By  this  time,  Gen.  Scofield  had  fifteen  thousand  men 
at  Chattanooga,  and  Sherman  was  pressing  hard  on 
Hood's  rear.  He  therefore  moved  off  to  the  south- 
west; and  when  he  had  reached  northern  Alabama, 
Gen.  Sherman  left  Gen.  Thomas  to  look  after  him,  and 
returned  to  Atlanta. 

The  Twentieth  corps  had  set  to  work,  making  a  most 
formidable  line  of  works  around  Atlanta.  It  was  esti- 
mated that  when  finished,  six  thousand  men  could  hold 
the  place  against  the  whole  rebel  army.  The  works 
had  advanced  toward  completion,  when  suddenly  their 
construction  was  stopped.  Atlanta  was  evidently  to 
be  abandoned,  and  some  bold  movement  attempted  by 
Sherman's  army. 


152  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

During  the  time,  the  railroad  was  broken  in  our  rear  ; 
of  course,  no  supplies  could  be  brought  forward ;  and 
having  no  forage,  our  animals  were  threatened  with 
starvation.  Under  these  circumstances,  Gen.  Slocum 
sent  large  foraging  expeditions  into  the  country  east- 
ward, to  Stone  Mountain  and  Yellow  River ;  and  over 
two  thousand  wagon-loads  of  corn  were  brought  in. 
Our  regiment  and  brigade  were  in  one  of  these  expedi- 
tions, which  consisted  of  three  brigades  and  two  sec- 
tions of  artillery.  We  were  gone  four  days,  and 
brought  in  nine  hundred  wagon-loads  of  corn  ;  besides, 
the  men  got  enough  sweet-potatoes  and  fresh  meat  to 
make  them  happy  for  a  fortnight. 

For  nearly  a  month,  we  are  in  constant  expectation 
of  a  movement,  and  are  preparing  for  a  long  campaign. 

November  3d,  the  Twentieth  corps  filed  out  of  camp, 
and  halted  three  miles  out,  on  the  Covington  road. 
We  supposed  the  great  campaign  had  begun ;  but,  the 
next  morning,  we  were  ordered  back  again  into  our 
own  old  camps. 

Then  came  the  organization  of  the  Army  of  Georgia. 
Right  wing,  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  corps ;  Left  wing, 
Fourteenth  and  Twentieth.  Howard  commanding  the 
right ;  Slocum,  the  left ;  and  Sherman,  the  whole  army. 

The  surplus  stores  were  sent  back  on  the  railroad ; 
and  the  road  was  then  abandoned,  as  far  back  as  Dalton. 

On  the  9th  of  November,  at  daylight,  a  force  of  the 
enemy  made  an  attack  on  the  works,  at  the  west  side 
of  Atlanta ;  at  the  same  time,  making  a  feint  of  attack 
on  the  east  side.  It  was  a  division  from  Jonesboro, 
come  to  see  whether  we  still  held  Atlanta  in  force. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  153 

They  hurled  their  shells,  and  pushed  forward  their  skir- 
mishers rather  boldly  ;  but  retired  again,  as  vigorously 
as  they  advanced. 

November  13th,  the  railroad  through  Atlanta  is  be- 
ing burned,  and  the  public  buildings  are  ready  for  the 
torch.  The  Army  of  Georgia  is  marshaled  for  the 
great  campaign, — ready  for  whatever  fate  or  fortune 
may  betide. 


SHERMAN'S  GRAND  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  our  corps  started  from 
Atlanta,  and  on  the  16th,  the  whole  army  was  in  mo- 
tion. The  order  of  march  was  in  four  columns  on 
parallel  roads.  It  was  understood,  that  the  right  wing 
would  menace  Macon,  while  the  left  would,  for  a  dis- 
tance, sweep  down  the  Augusta  railroad;  and  the  two 
wings  would  come  together  somewhere  near  Millen,  as 
the  circumstances  of  the  march  might  dictate  to  the 
commanding  general.  There  was  much  speculation 
and  some  anxiety,  to  know  where  we  should  strike  the 
coast ;  but  that,  too,  was  doubtless  left  for  the  circum- 
stances of  the  march  and  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
to  dictate.  There  was  but  one  contingency  that  gave 
us  any  anxiety,  in  entering  upon  a  campaign  without  a 
base,  and  making  a  march  of  three  hundred  miles 
through  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country, — and  that 
was,  the  possibility  of  the  evacuation  of  Richmond  by 
Gen.  Lee,  and  the  concentration  of  the  whole  rebel 
army  on  our  front,  before  we  reached  the  coast. 
13 


164  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Our  generals,  and,  in  fact,  our  whole  army,  felt  con- 
fident that  no  Confederate  power,  outside  of  Lee's 
army,  could  keep  us  from  reaching  a  base  on  the  coast. 

We  were  ordered  to  collect  commissaries  and  forage, 
and  live  upon  the  country, — taking  from  the  rich  as 
far  as  possible,  and  sparing  the  poor. 

The  Twentieth  corps,  Gen.  Williams  commanding, 
formed  the  left  column  of  the  army,  and  marched  by 
way  of  Decatur  and  Stone  Mountain. 

We  left  Atlanta  in  flames.  It  was  the  avowed  pur- 
pose to  burn  all  those  buildings  that  could  render  the 
place  valuable  in  a  military  point  of  view,  should  the 
enemy  reoccupy  it.  In  doing  this,  many  other  build- 
ings were  burned,  and  more  than  half  of  the  city  was 
left  in  ruins. 

Nearly  a  whole  day  was  occupied  in  moving  the 
corps,  with  its  trains,  out  upon  the  road ;  and  the  first 
night  out,  our  division  marched  all  night.  Tha  night  was 
bitterly  cold,  and  was  a  severe  introduction  to  the  cam- 
paign. The  next  day  we  moved  on  past  Stone  Moun- 
tain, crossed  Indian  and  Snap-finger  Creeks,  and  the 
Yellow  River,  stopping  for  the  night  at  Roxbridge. 
Thence  our  course  lay  down  the  Yellow  River.  On  the 
17th,  we  reached  the  village  of  Sheffield.  On  the  18th, 
our  column  passed  through  Social  Circle,  where  the 
Third  division  halted,  and  went  to  work  destroying  the 
railroad.  A  rebel  train  was  just  leaving  the  town  as 
our  advance  entered  it.  The  corps  destroyed  the  road 
as  far  as  Rutledge,  and  camped  for  the  night  at  Stal- 
ling's  Station. 

Early  the  next  morning,  our  brigade  was   ordered 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  155 

out  on  a  reconnoisance  to  Madison,  only  five  miles 
distant.  We  moved  before  daylight;  but  Geary,  with 
his  usual  get-a-head-ativeness,  occupied  the  town  before 
we  arrived.  We  stopped  in  Madison,  and  awaited  the 
arrival  of  the  other  brigades  of  our  division,  which 
came  forward  in  the  afternoon. 

This  was  the  most  beautiful  village  we  had  seen  in 
in  the  South.  Here  the  wealthy  planters  of  this  fine 
agricultural  district  had  built  their  homes ;  and  there 
were  such  evidences  of  taste  and  wealth  and  culture, 
such  beauty  of  landscape  gardening,  such  charming 
parks  and  hedges  of  evergreen,  and  wealth  of  cluster- 
ing flowers,  as  we  had  seen  no  where  else. 

Our  division  destroyed  the  railroad  at  this  place,  as 
also  the  depot  and  cotton  warehouses,,  and  the  cala- 
boose, with  its  whipping  stocks,  where  the  erring  slaves 
of  the  town  were  publicly  whipped  every  morning  at 
nine  o'clock.  Gen.  Geary,  with  his  division,  moved  on 
down  the  railroad  to  Greensboro',  while  the  First  and 
Third  divisions  turned  to  the  right  and  moved  on  Mil- 
ledgeville. 

The  negroes  are  very  numerous  in  this  section  of  the 
State.  They  were  overjoyed  at  the  coming  of  our 
army,  and  hundreds  from  this  one  neighborhood  seized 
the  opportunity  to  escape  to  freedom.  After  leaving 
Madison  we  passed  through  a  fine  agricultural  district, 
where  there  was  abundance  of  cotton  stored,  which  our 
army  destroyed,  and  where  we  witnessed  the  workings 
of  the  plantation  system  of  negro  slavery,  without  being 
charmed  with  either  the  humanity  or  chivalric  element 
of  Southern  civilization.  We  were  compelled  to  allow 


156  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

that  all  the  taste  and  culture  and  wealth  that  beautified 
the  homes  and  enriched  the  lives  of  the  masters  was 
most  dearly  bought  at  the  price  here  paid  for  it,  for  we 
observed  that  where  one  was  made  better  and  happier 
by  this  system  of  civilization,  so  called,  there  were  a 
score  debased  and  degraded  almost  to  the  level  of  the 
brute.  We  could  not  resist  the  conviction  that  a  civ- 
ilization in  which  a  score  of  lives  are  impoverished  and 
embittered,  are  blasted  and  debased  and  damned,  in 
order  that  one  life  may  be  made  sweeter,  is  a  system  of 
wrong  that  no  language  can  properly  condemn. 

We  encamped  the  first  night  only  four  miles  from 
Madison,  and  the  next  day  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Eatonton.  This  is  the  terminus  of  an  arm  of  railroad 
running  from  Gordon  Junction,  on  the  Georgia  Cen- 
tral road,  through  Milledgeville.  At  Eatonton  the 
calaboose  and  whipping  stocks  were  burned,  and  the 
negroes  fairly  danced  to  see  them  in  flames.  Great 
numbers  of  negroes  followed  us  as  we  marched  along. 
They  were  generally  under  the  impression  that  the  year 
of  jubilee  had  come.  Many  were  ignorant  and  de- 
graded as  brutes  almost ;  but  some  were  intelligent,  and 
seemed  to  understand  the  "  situation "  as  well  as  we 
did.  The  country  abounded  in  all  kinds  of  forage  (we 
call  every  thing  forage  now),  and  large  numbers  of 
mules  and  horses  are  being  collected  in  this  fine  agri- 
cultural section,  to  replace  the  poor  and  worn-out  ani- 
mals in  our  trains.  The  foragers  are  also  allowed  to 
procure  animals  to  ride,  and  thousands  are  captured  for 
that  purpose.  Cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  turkeys  and  chick- 
ens are  abundant.  Sweet  potatoes,  yams,  corn-meal, 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  157 

flour,  rice,  sugar,  melasses,  bacon  and  honey  are  plen- 
tiful, and  we  are  utterly  indifferent  concerning  hard- 
tack. 

November  21st  we  camped  on  Little  River,  only  ten 
miles  from  Milledgeville.  The  next  day  we  crossed 
the  river  on  a  pontoon,  and  moved  on  the  capital,  which 
we  entered  with  "  music  and  banners,"  and  without 
opposition.  As  we  closed  in  on  the  city  we  could  see 
a  long  dark  column  of  smoke  on  our  right,  and  we  knew 
it  was  the  Fourteenth  corps  coming  in  from  Covington, 
darkening  the  heavens  with  the  smoke  of  burning  cot- 
ton as  they  came,  while  on  our  left  was  yet  another 
column  of  pitchy  smoke,  and  we  said,  "  It  is  Geary 
coming  in  from  Greensboro'."  Our  division  passed 
through  the  city  and  went  into  camp.  After  dark  the 
Seventy-third  Ohio  was  sent  to  a  position  south  of  the 
city,  to  guard  a  bridge  across  the  Oconee  River.  This 
brought  us  into  a  pleasant  neighborhood,  near  the 
Oglethorpe  University,  where  there  were  many  fine 
suburban  residences,  and  landscape  and  garden  beauty 
almost  equal  to  Madison.  There  being  no  other  troops 
in  this  neighborhood,  the  Seventy-third  fared  sump- 
tuously, being  treated  very  kindly  by  the  citizens.  No 
damage  was  done  to  Milledgeville,  save  the  burning  of 
the  penitentiary,  the  depot  and  the  arsenal.  In  the 
latter  there  were  considerable  stores,  and  among  them 
thousands  of  short  swords,  or  cutlasses,  and  pikes — 
the  latter  somewhat  after  the  John  Brown  pattern. 
These  we  understood  were  kept  to  put  down  insurrec- 
tions of  slaves.  The  convicts  in  the  penitentiary  (one 
hundred  and  fifty  in  number)  had  been  turned  loose, 


158  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

upon  the  simple  promise  that  they  would  join  the  rebel 
army,  and  the  legislature  and  governor  had  double- 
quicked  for  home  two  days  before  we  reached  the  place. 
"We  rested  at  Milledgeville  nearly  the  whole  of  two  days. 
The  Fourteenth  corps  passed  through  the  capital  and 
crossed  our  path,  thus  becoming  the  left  column  of  the 
army.  The  right  wing,  after  menacing  Macon,  had 
moved  on  down  the  Georgia  Central  road.  Gen.  How- 
ard was  here,  however,  to  consult  with  Gen.  Sherman. 

On  the  afternoon  of  November  24th,  the  Twentieth 
corps  left  Milledgeville,  and  that  night  our  division 
again  marched  all  night,  our  path  lighted  with  burning 
fences,  cotton  gins,  etc.  The  next  day  we  marched 
through  a  fine  cotton  and  grain  country,  and  our  col- 
umn was  stopped  by  the  burning  of  a  long  bridge  across 
Buffalo  Creek,  which  was  done  by  Wheeler  to  impede 
our  march. 

November  26th  our  corps  reached  Sandersville, 
where  we  met  the  Fourteenth  corps  again.  Our  First 
and  Second  divisions  pushed  on  to  Power's  Station,  on 
the  Georgia  Central  road,  where  they  destroyed  the 
track.  "Wheeler  was  now  in  our  front  with  his  cavalry, 
doing  all  he  could  to  impede  our  march.  He  had  just 
left  Sandersville  when  our  head  of  column  reached  the 
town.  Our  division  moved  on  the  next  day  with  the 
trains  of  the  whole  corps,  while  the  other  divisions 
swept  down  the  railroad  to  Davisboro',  at  which  place 
we  arrived  at  midnight. 

November  28th  we  reached  the  Ogechee  River,  oppo- 
site Louisville,  where  we  found  the  bridge  destroyed, 
and  halted  to  await  its  repair.  On  the  following  day 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      159 

we  crossed  the  Ogeechee  and  Comfort  Creek,  passed 
through  Louisville,  and  camped  a  few  miles  beyond. 
Here  we.  rested  for  a  day,  while  the  First  and  Third 
divisions,  which  had  gone  down  the  railroad  from  Da- 
visboro,  to  the  Ogeechee  River,  finding  the  bridge  de- 
stroyed, and  being  unable  to  cross,  came  up  the  river, 
crossed,  and  rejoined  us  near  Louisville.  Kilpatrick 
and  Wheeler  have  a  passage  at  arms  some  distance  in 
our  front. 

We  are  daily  in  receipt  of  newspapers  of  Augusta  and 
Savannah,  and  of  the  rural  districts,  which  our  foragers 
bring  in ;  and  we  laugh  ourselves  to  tears  sometimes 
at  their  "Last  ditch"  literature.  Half-scared  to  death, 
and  yet  boastful  and  defiant,  they  exhibit  a  rich  com- 
bination of  the  coward  and  the  braggart.  Now  they 
are  having  the  people  rise  as  one  man  ;  they  are  burn- 
ing bridges,  cutting  timber  across  the  roads,  rendering 
swamps  and  streams  impassable  ;  every  tree  shields  a 
Confederate  bushwhacker;  all  the  forage  and  subsis- 
tence is  to  be  destroyed  in  Sherman's  pathway,  so  that 
his  hireling  legions  may  starve  ;  and,  according  to  the 
reports  of  these  newspapers,  defeat  and  disaster  in  a 
hundred  forms  stare  us  inevitably  in  the  face.  Still 
our  column  move  on,  with  scarcely  an  interruption. 

Our  march  was  like  a  grand  pic-nic  excursion,  feast- 
ing upon  the  fat  of  the  land  by  day,  and  sleeping 
sweetly  and  soundly  at  night,  without  fear  of  moles- 
tation. 

At  noon,  December  3d,  our  division  halted  for  din- 
ner, near  Camp  Lawton,  the  rebel  stockade  prison,  four 
miles  from  Millen.  We  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting 


160  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

this  prison  camp,  and  examining  its  "Gopher  holes," 
and  dirt  houses,  its  "dead  line,"  its  "stocks'5  for  the 
punishment  of  prisoners,  etc.,  etc.  The  stockade  was 
made  of  pine  logs,  twenty-two  feet  long  and  fifteen 
inches  in  diameter, — the  logs  being  set  six  feet  in  the 
ground.  This  stockade-wall  inclosed  an  area  of  forty 
acres.  Some  five  or  six  thousand  prisoners  had  been 
confined  here  until  within  the  last  ten  days ;  when, 
hearing  of  Sherman's  advance,  they  were  removed 
farther  south. 

We  found  two  Union  soldiers  inside  the  stockade,  lying 
on  the  bare  ground,  without  bed  or  covering,  and  almost 
without  clothing — dead.  And  nine  hundred  graves 
near  the  prison,  told  how  our  men  had  suffered  during 
the  few  weeks  they  had  been  confined  here.  Yet,  this 
is  the  land  of  the  boasting  chivalry ;  and  these  are  the 
deeds  of  the  proud  sons  of  Huguenots. 

Here,  near  Millen,  we  crossed  the  Augusta  and  Sa- 
vannah railroad.  One  of  our  brigades  went  to  work, 
destroying  the  road,  while  the  others  moved  on  with 
the  trains.  Two  divisions  of  the  Fourteenth  corps  cut 
the  road  farther  up,  near  Wnynesboro'. 

We  are  now  fifty  miles  from  Augusta,  and  seventy 
from  Savannah  by  rail ;  and  have  thoroughly  destroyed 
the  road  between  the  two  cities.  The  left  wing — Ar- 
my of  Georgia — now  pushed  straight  on  toward  the 
Charleston  and  Savannah  railroad  and  the  Savannah 
River;  while  the  right  wing,  turning  to  the  right, 
marched  down  the  Ogeechee  River.  December  5th, 
the  march  of  our  column  was  interrupted  by  a  running 
skirmish,  between  our  advance  and  the  rebel  cavalry. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  161 

We  have  now  left  the  cotton  and  corn  districts  of 
Georgia,  and  entered  the  "Piney  Woods."  There  is 
little  tilled  or  tillable  land,  and  consequently  but  little 
forage.  For  sixty  miles,  we  have  an  almost  unbroken 
pine  forest,  a  low,  flat,  sandy  country,  with  here  and 
there  the  hut  and  sweet-potato-patch  of  a  pinelander. 
Every  day  we  could  hear  the  sound  of  cannon  at  the 
head  of  the  right-wing  columns,  as  they  swept  down 
the  Ogeechee.  Our  corps  passed  Sylvania  and  Spring- 
field, while  the  Fourteenth  pushed  forward  on  our  left, 
and  struck  the  Savannah  River  near  where  it  is  crossed 
by  the  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad.  Here  they 
skirmished  heavily  with  the  enemy,  and  the  cannon 
thundered  on  our  left  as  well  as  on  our  right,  as  the 
four  columns  of  the  grand  army  closed-in  on  the  city 
of  Savannah. 


IN   FRONT   OF   SAVANNAH. 

December  9th,  our  First  division  leading  the  corps  en- 
countered three  hundred  rebels  in  a  fort,  thirteen  miles 
from  Savannah,  and  commanding  the  road  on  which  our 
column  was  advancing.  After  a  sharp  skirmish,  the 
fort  was  capturad,  the  enemy  retiring  toward  the  city. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  our  corps  pushed 
forward,  leaving  the  trains  behind,  we  struck  the 
Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad,  at  Monteith,  only 
ten  miles  from  the  city.  Then  turning  south,  we 
moved  on  Savannah,  tearing  up  the  railroad  as  we  went. 
Heavily  and  rapidly  thundered  the  cannon  in  our  right 


162  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

front,  as  the  Seventeenth  corps  closed-in  on  the  de- 
fenses of  the  city;  and  sharper  grew  the  skirmish  of 
small  arms,  which  now  came  nearer  and  nearer  until 
our  own  skirmishers  engaged  those  of  the  enemy  in  a 
warm  interchange  of  compliments,  and  the  shot  and 
shell  began  to  thunder  and  scream,  and  ricochette  along 
our  own  front.  The  rebel  skirmishers  were  steadily 
borne  back,  until  they  finally  retired  behind  their  last 
and  only  line  of  works  in  front  of  Savannah.  This  line 
was  three  miles  from  the  city ;  and  between  it  and  our 
corps-lines,  there  ran,  or  rather  stagnated,  a  body  of 
water,  from  one  to  three  hundred  yards  wide, — half 
swamp  and  half  canal, — which  was  fed  from  the  Ogee- 
chee  Canal,  above  the  city ;  and  was,  at  one  time,  in- 
tended for  flooding  the  country  for  rice.  The  water 
was  now  from  three  to  six  feet  deep  ;  and  in  case  of 
rain,  would  so  overspread  the  country,  as  to  render  it, 
for  some  distance,  untenable  for  an  army. 

December  llth,  the  Seventeenth  corps  moved  to  the 
right,  and  the  Fourteenth  came  in  on  our  right,  occu- 
pying from  the  Charleston  Railroad  to  the  Ogeechee 
canal ;  while  the  Twentieth  reached  from  the  railroad 
to  the  Savannah  River.  Our  line  is  formed,  breast- 
works built,  and  our  skirmishers  pushed  forward  to 
wTithin  rifle-range  of  the  enemy's  main  line  ;  then  our 
troops  go  into  camp,  in  rear  of  their  works,  and  await 
events. 

On  the  13th,  Fort  McCallister,  commanding  the 
Ogeechee  River,  was  taken  by  Hazen's  division  of  the 
Fifteenth  corps.  Communications  are  now  opened  be- 
tween Gens.  Sherman  and  Foster,  and  we  have  a  base 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      163 

for  our  " cracker  line"  again.  This  was  most  timely 
good  fortune ;  for  we  had  already  exhausted  what  sup- 
plies we  had  brought  from  Atlanta  or  gathered  in  Cen- 
tral Georgia ;  and,  since  the  piney  woods  and  cypress 
swamps  of  this  section  of  the  state  afforded  no  forage, 
in  a  few  days  our  army  would  have  been  suffering  for 
food.  As  it  was,  our  men  were  reduced  to  a  gill  of 
rice  per  day,  with  a  very  little  Georgia  beef  which  was 
of  such  bad  quality  that  many  would  not  eat  it. 

Our  first  rations  were  received  via  the  Ogeechee 
River,  on  the  19th,  and  found  our  men  growing  very 
weak,  as  they  had  lived,  for  six  days,  on  their  gill  of 
rice  per  day,  and  having  nothing  but  swamp-water  to 
drink,  the  change  to  coffee  and  crackers  was  most 
welcome  indeed. 

On  the  17th,  twenty  tons  of  mail  were  distributed  to 
Sherman's  army.  How  glad  we  were  to  get  letters 
from  home  !  and  newspapers  also,  telling  us  that  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  is  re-elected  President.  So  the  people — 
the  loyal  millions — stand  by  the  President,  and  the 
army,  and  the  country.  To  them  the- war  is  not  "  a 
failure,"  and  this  is  their  verdict :  that  the  nation  shall 
be  saved. 

On  the  17th,  Gen.  Sherman  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce, 
demanding  the  surrender  of  the  city.  Gen.  Hardee, 
on  the  18th,  returned  a  reply,  refusing  to  surrender, 
and  Gen.  Sherman  at  once  determined  to  assault. 
Commanders  of  brigades  and  regiments  were  ordered 
to  reconnoitre  the  ground  in  their  respective  fronts, 
and  then  to  cut  roads  through  the  underbrush,  so  that 
the  whole  line  could  move  forward  simultaneously. 


164  JOURNAL-HISTORY   OF    THE 

Preparations  were  made  to  assault  on  the  morning  of 
the  21st,  at  daylight.  The  enemy  had  three  batteries 
in  front  of  our  corps,  and  their  line  of  works  ran  at 
water's  edge  on  the  farther  side  of  the  canal.  Under 
the  circumstances  it  seemed  a  desperate  undertaking  to 
assault,  for  we  knew  that  in  front  of  our  division  no 
man  could  cross  the  canal  with  dry  cartridges,  and  with 
a  reliable  line  of  battle  behind  the  rebel  works,  no  man 
of  a  single  line  could  cross  the  canal  alive.  It  was  with 
no  little  foreboding  we  lay  down  to  rest  on  the  night  of 
the  20th,  and  our  worst  anticipations  of  costly  work 
seemed  about  to  be  realized  when  we  were  awakened  in 
the  morning  with  the  order  to  "  Fall  in,  and  be  prepared 
to  move  on  the  enemy's  works  immediately."  In  a  few 
minutes  we  were  in  line,  ready  for  the  last  charge  for 
Savannah.  Solemn  and  silent  were  our  battalions  while 
they  awaited  the  order  to  advance,  and  while  thus  wait- 
ing, a  staff  officer  announced  that  the  enemy  had  evac- 
uated the  city. 


SAVANNAH    SURRENDERED. 

We  had  heard  their  cannon  at  midnight,  and  did  not 
dream  of  their  evacuation  of  the  place,  but  at  daylight 
Geary  was  in  the  city,  and  Savannah  had  surrendered. 
By  this  surrender  one  hundred  and  fifty  cannon  and 
large  quantities  of  cotton  and  other  contraband  stores 
fell  into  loyal  hands,  and  a  base  was  gained  upon  the 
coast  that  must  prove  invaluable  in  the  farther  progress 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      165 

of  the  war.  And  now  the  army  grouped  in  and  around 
Savannah  for  another  rest.  Our  brigade  encamped  a 
mile  above  the  city,  near  the  river  bank,  and  by  Christ- 
mas day  we  are  very  comfortable  in  our  new  home. 
Thus  ended  successfully  one  of  the  most  daring  and 
masterly  military  campaigns  in  all  history.  An  army 
of  seventy  thousand  men  had  destroyed  its  own  com- 
munications for  a  hundred  miles  to  its  rear — had  marched 
out  of  its  fortified  position,  and  away  through  the  very 
heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  three  hundred  miles,  to 
its  farther  border — marching  leisurely,  as  if  they  had 
been  on  a  pleasure  trip,  and  had  there  established  a  new 
base,  compelling  the  surrender  of  one  of  the  principal 
commercial  cities  of  the  country ;  and  all  this  had  been 
accomplished  with  scarcely  a  skirmish  or  an  interrup- 
tion. Well  was  it  proven  that  the  Confederacy  was  "  a 
shell " — that,  though  strong  in  agricultural  resources 
and ''the  labor  of  its  slaves,  its  men  were  exhausted 
And  now  the  Confederacy  had  been  virtually  severed 
by  the  war-path  of  the  victorious  Sherman,  whose 
sweeping  columns  had  destroyed  two  hundred  miles  of 
railroad,  burned  many  millions  worth  of  cotton,  and 
made  four  black  belts  across  the  State  of  Georgia. 

December  27th,  Ward's  division  was  ordered  across 
the  Savannah  River  to  gain  a  foothold  on  South  Caro- 
lina soil.  The  movement  was  delayed,  however,  and 
three  days  later  the  old  Twentieth  corps  passed  in  re- 
view before  the  great  raider  in  the  streets  of  Savannah. 

On  the  31st  we  crossed  the  river  to  Hutchinson's 
Island,  but  failing  to  get  across  the  farther  stream  to 
the  main  land,  marched  back  again  to  our  old  camp, 


166  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

which  we  now  found  occupied  by  other  troops.  By 
permission  our  regiment  occupied  a  camp  built  by  the 
Thirteenth  New  Jersey,  and  here  spent  our  New  Year's 
holiday.  And,  looking  back  over  the  closing  year, 
what  an  eventful  drama  was  presented  in  the  campaign 
of  Atlanta,  and  Sherman's  grand  march  to  the  sea! 
The  mighty  sweep  of  Sherman's  columns  had  crowned 
the  triumphs  of  the  year,  while  Sheridan  and  Thomas 
had  also  been  signally  successful.  Hood  was  now 
flying  with  the  remnants  of  his  shattered  army  before 
the  victorious  legions  of  the  Cumberland.  Our  hearts 
were  filled  with  joy  and  pride  by  the  victories  of  our 
old  comrades,  as  across  the  Confederacy  we  seemed  to 
hear  the  boom  of  their  conquering  cannon  and  the 
shout  of  their  victorious  charge.  Breckinridge  had 
been  driven  back  toward  Lynchburg  by  Stoneman,  and 
Sheridan  had  fairly  driven  Early  from  the  valley  of 
Virginia,  while  Grant — still  fighting  on  "  that  line  " — 
grappled  and  held  his  able  antagonist  at  Richmond  with 
a  purpose  and  tenacity  scarcely  less  significant  than 
accomplished  victory.  Surely  the  beginning  of  the  end 
is  at  hand.  The  sands  of  the  "  C.  S.  A."  are  well  nigh 
run.  Victory,  complete  and  overwhelming,  shall  yet 
and  soon  be  ours !  Thank  God  our  labors  and  sacri- 
fices shall  not  be  vain  ! 

The  third  year  of  our  regimental  history  was  now 
completed,  and  those  men  of  the  original  regiment  who 
had  not  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and  those  officers  who 
had  not  beenremustered  since  the  reorganization  of  the 
regiment,  were  now  mustered  out  of  the  service.  This 
inuster-out  included  four  officers  and  eighty-five  men — 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  167 

forty-two  of  the  number  being  present  with  the  regi- 
ment. These  were  nearly  all  men  who  had  been  ab- 
sent, sick  or  wounded,  at  the  time  of  the  veteran  re- 
enlistment.  This  reduction  of  our  numbers  left  us 
fewer  men  than  we  had  ever  before  had  upon  our  rolls. 


IN   THE   PALMETTO   STATE. 

On  the  2d  day  of  January,  1865,  Ward's  division 
again  moved  across  the  river  to  Hutchinson's  Island, 
but  the  pontoon  bridge  being  incompleted,  we  could  not 
reach  the  South  Carolina  main  land ;  so  we  returned  to 
the  wharf  at  Savannah,  and  taking  a  steamer,  soon 
doubled  the  point  of  the  island  and  landed  in  the  rice 
fields  on  the  Carolina  shore.  Here  we  remained  two 
days,  and  then  moved  out  six  miles  from  the  river,  to 
a  position  where  there  was  an  abandoned  fort,  built  in 
the  earliest  days  of  the  war,  and  called  Fort  Hardee. 
Here  again  the  division  went  into  camp.  Preparations 
were  now  hurried  forward  for  a  new  campaign  through 
the  Carolinas.  Gen.  Howard,  with  the  Seventeenth 
corps,  steamed  around  to  Beaufort,  and  the  whole  of 
Sherman's  army  was  made  ready  for  a  movement  north- 
ward. 

January  16th,  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  Coggswell,  Colonel 
of  the  Second  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  our  brigade. j 


168  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

THROUGH   THE    CAROLINAS. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  Ward's  division  broke  camp 
and  marched  to  Hardeeville,  a  village  on  the  Charleston 
and  Savannah  Railroad.  The  whole  army  was  to  be 
put  in  motion  at  once,  but  heavy  rains  set  in,  and  the 
low,  sandy  country  was  soon  rendered  impassable  for 
artillery  and  trains :  hence  the  movement  was  delayed. 

January  29th.  The  rains  have  abated  somewhat, 
and  the  army  is  in  motion.  The  First  and  Third  divis- 
ions of  our  corps  move  to  Robertsville.  Geary's  di- 
vision and  the  Fourteenth  corps  come  up  the  right  bank 
of  the  Savannah  River,  cross  at  Sister's  Ferry,  and 
join  our  column. 

February  2d,  we  reach  Lawtonville,  and  skirmish 
heavily  with  the  enemy's  cavalry. 

February  4th,  we  are  at  Allendale,  and  open  commu- 
nication with  the  right  wing,  coming  up  from  Poco- 
taligo.  Our  head  of  column  skirmished  with  the  enemy 
at  the  crossings  of  the  Big  and  Little  Salkehatchie 
Rivers,  and  on  the  7th  we  reached  the  Charleston  and 
Augusta  Railroad,  which  we  immediately  commenced 
destroying. 

Like  as  in  Georgia,  we  were  ordered  to  "  live  upon 
the  country,"  and  forage  of  all  kinds  was  gathered  in, 
though  not  so  plentifully  as  in  Georgia.  The  citizens 
were  in  great  consternation.  They  had  come  to  be- 
lieve that  Sherman  could  go  any  where  he  wished,  or 
do  any  thing  he  undertook,  and  considering  themselves 
at  his  mercy,  they  flung  their  white  flags  to  the  breeze 
at  almost  every  house.  It  was  amusing  to  observe 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.   INFANTRY.  169 

these  bold,  defiant,  last-ditch,  fire-eating  South  Caro- 
linians, as  our  army  marched  through  and  left  its  foot- 
prints in  the  sands  of  their  proud  Palmetto  State.  They 
were  as  harmless  as  babes.  Indeed,  we  saw  more  white 
flags  in  South  Carolina  in  a  single  day,  than  we  had 
seen  in  Virginia  in  a  whole  year.  The  left  wing  of  the 
army  tore  up  and  destroyed  about  thirty  miles  of  the 
C.  &  A.  R.  R.,  burning  the  ties  and  twisting  the  rails 
into  what  the  boys  called  "  Lincoln  gimlets."  Then 
our  column  resumed  its  march  on  Columbia. 

February  llth,  Kilpatrick  has  a  slight  engagement 
with  Cheatem's  division  of  rebel  infantry,  some  fifteen 
miles  out  upon  our  left.  We  cross  the  Edisto  and  North 
Edisto  Rivers,  and  close  in  upon  the  capital  of  the  State. 
The  rebel  cavalry  are  in  our  front,  and  almost  constant 
skirmishing  is  going  on. 

February  16th,  our  whole  army  appeared  in  front  of 
Columbia.  A  few  shells  were  thrown  into  the  city,  but 
elicited  no  reply.  The  place  had  been  evacuated  the 
day  before.  The  city  in  which  the  rebellion  was 
born — the  proud  'capital  of  the  proud  State  of  South 
Carolina — surrendered  to  the  hated  <•  Yankee  "  without 
firing  a  gun.  "  Let  it  be  recorded."  The  right  wing 
now  laid  their  pontoons  and  crossed  the  river  to  the 
city,  while  the  left  moved  a  few  miles  up,  above  the 
junction  of  the  Saluda  and  Broad  Rivers — crossed  those 
streams,  and  taking  a  northeasterly  direction,  arrived 
at  Winnsboro'  on  the  20th,  and  two  days  later  crossed 
the  Catawba.  We  had  now  several  days  of  rain,  and 
the  trains  were  scarcely  able  to  move.  Many  miles  of 
corduroy  were  built,  and  finally  we  had  to  halt  for  the 
14 


1TO  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

trains  and  the  Fourteenth  corps  to  come  forward.  We 
encamped  on  the  old  battle-ground  at  Hanging  Rock, 
on  Little  Lynch  Creek,  and  remained  here  till  the  27th, 
when  the  column  again  moved  on.  The  enemy  have 
evacuated  Charleston,  and  Gen.  Hardee  is  concentrating 
all  his  forces  in  our  front.  At  Cheraw  we  crossed  the 
Great  Pedee  River  into  North  Carolina.  We  had  now 
marched  through  the  entire  State  of  South  Carolina, 
from  the  point  of  her  peninsula  near  Savannah,  to  the 
northeastern  corner  at  Cheraw,  and  yet  the  chivalrous 
sons  of  the  proud  Palmetto  State  had  not  once  offered 
us  battle.  Our  route  now  lay  through  a  heavily  tim- 
bered country — an  almost  unbroken  pine  forest — where 
turpentine  and  rosin  are  the  principal  productions. 
Burning  pitch  and  rosin  blackened  the  heavens  with 
their  smoke  as  our  column  moved  along.  Orders  were 
issued  that  the  greatest  possible  lenity  should  be  shown 
to  the  citizens  of  North  Carolina,  because  of  their  long 
continued  devotion  to  the  old  government  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  and  also  on  account  of  their 
oft-repeated  and  now  earnest  demand  that  the  war 
should  cease. 

On  the  llth  of  March  our  columns  reached  Fayette- 
ville,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River — next  after  Wilmington, 
the  most  important  town  in  the  State.  Wilmington  had 
surrendered  to  Gen.  Terry,  and  a  steamer  arrived  from 
that  city.  This  was  our  first  communication  with  the 
outside  world  since  cutting  loose  from  our  base  at  Sa- 
vannah. Our  corps  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  on  the 
12th,  and  on  the  following  day,  while  the  army  was 
resting,  our  brigade  made  a  reconnoisance  to  Black 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      171 

River,  the  crossing  of  which  we  found  held  by  a  con- 
siderable force  of  rebel  cavalry.  After  a  lively 
skirmish  the  brigade  retired,  and  that  night  rejoined 
the  corps. 

The  enemy  is  now  in  our  front  in  force,  and  though 
retiring  slowly,  is  yet  doggedly  disputing  our  advance. 
Gen.  Sherman  now  ordered  the  right  wing  and  one  di- 
vision of  the  left  to  move,  with  all  the  heavy  trains, 
east  of  Black  River,  and  in  the  direction  of  Goldsboro', 
while  two  divisions  of  the  Fourteenth  and  two  of  the 
Twentieth  corps,  with  light  trains,  move  up  the  Cape 
Fear  and  bear  off  toward  Raleigh.  This  was,  doubt- 
less, to  divert  the  enemy  toward  the  State  capital,  while 
our  trains  and  main  army  moved  on  safely  to  Golds- 
boro',  where  a  junction  was  to  be  made  with  the  forces 
of  Gen.  Terry  coming  from  Wilmington,  and  Schofield 
from  Newbern.  Our  column  of  four  divisions  started 
on  the  15th,  Gen.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  accompanying 
and  covering  the  advance. 


BATTLE   OF   AVERYSBORO*. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  March  16th,  Kilpatrick, 
supported  by  a  brigade  of  infantry,  skirmished  heavily 
with  the  enemy,  and  it  was  soon  known  that  Gen. 
Hardee  was  in  our  front,  determined  to  dispute  our 
advance,  or  at  least  to  retard  it  so  as  to  cover  the  re- 
treat of  his  trains  and  artillery,  which  were  compelled 
to  move  slowly  on  account  of  the  condition  of  the  roads. 


172  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  Third  division  of  the  Twentieth  corps  arrived  on  the 
field  about  nine  o'clock,  and  found  a  portion  of  the  First 
division  and  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  warmly  engaging  the 
foe.  Our  division  was  at  once  moved  to  the  front. 
The  skirmish  line  was  made  almost  as  strong  as  a  line 
of  battle.  Soon  our  brigade  was  deployed  near  the 
center  of  the  line  and  pushed  close  upon  the  enemy. 
The  firing  both  of  small  arms  and  artillery  grew  heavier 
as  the  day  advanced,  and  our  line  pressed  forward. 
About  noon  we  charged  and  drove  them  from  their  first 
line  of  works,  where  they  left  quite  a  number  of  their 
dead  and  wounded.  Back  *  through  the  woods  they 
were  steadily  driven,  but  they  disputed  every  inch  of 
ground  with  a  costly  heroism.  v 

During  the  afternoon  the  First  brigade  of  our  di- 
vision charged  and  captured  a  section  of  artillery  on 
our  left,  while  on  the  right,  the  First  division  charged 
them  front  and  flank,  driving  them  back  on  their  third 
and  main  line  of  works.  Our  line  pressed  forward, 
keeping  up  a  heavy  fire.  We  waded  a  swamp,  knee- 
deep  with  water  and  a  hundred  yards  wide,  and  pushed 
right  up  to  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  paces  of  the  rebel 
works.  Finding  how  costly  it  would  be  to  go  farther, 
or  even  to  remain  here,  the  line  was  withdrawn  a  short 
distance  and  temporary  works  built.  Here  we  rested 
for  the  night.  A  lively  fire  was  maintained  on  the 
skirmish  lines  until  about  midnight,  when  the  enemy 
retired.  They  retreated  through  Averysboro',  in  the 
direction  of  Smithfield.  The  loss  of  our  brigade  in 
this  engagement  was  one  hundred  and  eighteen  men. 
The  two  divisions  of  the  Twentieth  corps  lost  six  hun- 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.          173 

dred,  killed  and  wounded.  In  the  Seventy-third  Ohio 
there  were  fifteen  men  wounded.  Here  we  had  fought 
Hardee's  corps  of  fifteen  thousand  to  twenty  thousand 
men.  The  rebel  Gen.  Johnston  had  been  assigned  to 
command  all  the  forces  in  our  front,  and  was  concen- 
trating them  so  as  to  give  us  battle. 

Two  divisions  of  our  column  now  moved  on  to  Ave- 
rysboro';  while  the  other  two,  with  the  trains,  turned 
to  the  right  and  crossed  Black  River,  some  miles  south 
of  Averysboro'. 

We  remained  at  Averysboro'  for  a  night,  and  then 
moved  down  to  the  Black  River  bridge,  and  followed 
the  advance  divisions.  The  roads  were  almost  impas- 
sable. Our  brigade  marched  all  night,  as  a  guard  to 
the  trains,  and  accomplished  only  two  miles  in  eight 
hours. 


BATTLE  OF   BENTONVILLE. 

On  Sunday,  March  19th,  the  two  divisions  of  the 
Fourteenth  corps  held  the  advance,  while  the  Twen- 
tieth corps  divisions  guarded  the  trains  and  covered 
the  rear.  Our  column  had  changed  direction,  and  was 
now  moving  toward  Goldsboro'.  About  noon,  orders 
were  received  to  hurry  forward  the  infantry,  without 
regard  to  the  trains ;  and  soon  the  sound  of  cannon,  a 
few  miles  in  our  front,  told  of  the  enemy's  presence  and 
purpose.  It  was  two  o'clock  when  we  reached  the  high 
open  grounds  overlooking  the  field  where  the  battle  was 
going  on.  The  whole  of  the  other  three  divisions  were 


174  JOURNAL-HISTORY   OF   THE 

engaged,  and  ours  was  brought  forward  as  a  reserve. 
The  troops  of  the  Fourteenth  corps  had  skirmished 
with  the  enemy  at  the  skirt  of  a  woods,  and  had 
driven  them  a  mile  or  more,  when  suddenly  they  came 
upon  Johnston's  whole  army,  formed  for  battle  across 
our  line  of  march.  The  enemy  had  welcomed  them 
cordially,  and,  with  large  forces,  had  promptly  turned 
*)oth  their  flanks.  When,  finding  themselves  almost 
surrounded,  they  retreated  rapidly  and  in  some  confu- 
sion, but  only  thus  saving  themselves  from  being  sur- 
rounded and  overwhelmed.  They  retreated  to  the  skirt 
of  the  wood,  where  they  first  met  the  foe,  and  being 
joined  by  the  First  division  of  the  Twentieth,  had  here 
made  a  successful  stand. 

The  high  ground  in  rear  of  the  line  now  formed,  was 
a  fine  position  for  artillery  ;  and  by  the  time  the  enemy 
advanced  his  main  force  against  ours,  temporary  breast- 
works of  logs  and  rails  had  been  constructed. 

The  generals  seemed  very  uneasy  when  we  arrived. 
The  enemy  had  been  checked,  but  the  situation  was  yet 
very  critical. 

Our  division  was  massed,  and  awaited  the  events  of 
the  struggle.  The  battle  raged  along  the  line,  with  great 
earnestness  ;  charge  after  charge  was  made  against  our 
line,  and  repelled ;  and  the  hope  grew  stronger  that 
our  forces  would  be  able  to  stand  against  the  enemy's 
greatly  superior  numbers. 

Our  four  divisions  numbered  not  more  than  fifteen 
thousand  men,  while  Johnston  had  thirty-five  or  forty 
thousand  in  our  front.  Still,  many  of  his  men  had  not 
seen  service,  while  ours  were  nearly  all  veterans. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      175 

Morgan's  division  of  the  Fourteenth  corps  had  taken 
position  well  out  upon  the  right,  and  with  his  right 
thrown  well  forward.  An  interval  of  a  fourth  of  a  mile 
occurred  between  his  left  and  the  right  of  Jackson's 
division  of  the  Twentieth.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  Cogs- 
well's brigade  was  ordered  to  occupy  this  interval,  and 
at  once  moved  to  the  right,  and  forward. 

The  brigade  was  formed  in  two  lines ;  three  regi- 
ments in  the  first,  two  in  the  second.  We  passed 
through  the  interval  between  the  two  divisions,  and 
pushed  on  out  into  the  woods.  Suddenly  we  came 
upon  a  rebel  brigade  marching  in  column  of  battalions 
in  line,  evidently  moving  into  this  interval,  to  charge 
the  flank  of  Morgan's  division.  In  passing  around  a 
swamp,  the  leading  rebel  battalion  had  gained  consid- 
erable distance,  and  obliquely  right  into  the  interval 
thus  formed:  the  right  of  our  brigade  found  itself 
marching.  It  was  in  a  woods  thick  with  underbrush, 
and  the  situation  was  at  first  scarcely  apparent.  And 
so  astounded  were  the  two  forces  and  their  command- 
ers, that  not  a  shot  was  fired. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  the  advance  rebel  regiment  was 
cut  off,  and  surrendered  as  prisoners ;  while,  without 
firing  a  shot,  the  rest  of  the  brigade  rapidly  retreated. 

Our  brigade  was  halted,  and  withdrawn  a  hundred 
paces,  until  communication  could  be  opened  with  Gen. 
Morgan,  on  our  right  and  right  rear.  An  understand- 
ing was  now  had  with  that  commander,  that  our  brigade 
would  charge  the  enemy  in  its  front,  while  his  division 
would  charge  them  on  the  flank  at  the  same  time.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  waiting  for  the  completion  of  all  ar- 


176  JOURNAL- HISTORY  OF  THE 

rangements,  the  brigade  was  ordered  forward.  We 
had  not  gone  more  than  two  hundred  yards,  when  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  opened  fire,  which  was  rapidly 
followed  by  murderous  volleys  from  their  entire  line  of 
battle.  We  answered  their  fire,  and  laid  down,  shelter- 
ing ourselves  as  well  as  possible.  The  thick  under- 
brush prevented  the  combattants  from  seeing  each 
other,  though  the  lines  were  very  close. 

Fortunately,  their  position  was  a  little  above  our 
own,  and  their  fire  mainly  went  over  us.  Thus  lying 
upon  the  ground,  our  front  line,  with  the  Seventy-third 
Ohio  in  the  center,  continued  to  deliver  and  receive  a 
constant  and  telling  fire,  until  our  sixty  rounds  of  am- 
munition were  exhausted,  and  more  was  brought  from 
the  rear. 

Just  at  sunset,  the  enemy  was  reinforced  with  a  fresh 
line  of  battle ;  and  from  their  double  line  now  came 
such  a  storm  of  bullets  as  we  had  never  before  wit- 
nessed. So  terrible  and  withering  was  this  fire  of  small 
arms,  that,  had  our  battalions  stood  up,  they  must  have 
been  utterly  annihilated.  And  thus  on  until  darkness 
et  in,  the  air  was  thick  with  hissing  bullets. 

Gen.  Morgan  did  not  charge,  nor  even  engage  the 
rebel  flank.  After  dark,  the  firing  ceased  on  both 
sides.  Our  brigade  was  withdrawn  a  little,  and  at  once 
constructed  a  line  of  works. 

The  fighting  along  the  center  was  also  quite  earnest 
during  the  afternoon.  But  the  combined  fire  of  our 
artillery  and  infantry  drove  back  the  assailants,  and 
our  position  was  maintained. 

During  the  night,  the  enemy  fell  back  on  his  main 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  REGIMENT.  177 

line  of  works,  leaving  many  of  his  dead  upon  the  field. 
The  loss  of  the  Seventy-third  Ohio,  in  this  engagement, 
was  five  men  killed,  and  four  officers  and  twenty-one 
men  wounded. 

On  the  next  morning,  our  brigade  was  relieved,  and 
at  once  rejoined  the  division.  The  Fifteenth  and  Sev- 
enteenth corps  are  coming  in ;  and  thus  strengthened, 
we  are  in  no  danger  of  disaster. 

During  the  afternoon,  Ward's  division  moved  to  the 
left,  and  built  defenses. 

There  has  been  only  slight  skirmishing  to-day.  The 
enemy,  however,  are  reaching  out  to  their  right,  and  it 
is  evident  the  battle  is  ended,  unless  Sherman  assumes 
the  offensive,  which  he  will  not  do  so  far  from  any 
base. 

On  the  21st,  our  corps  marched  to  the  right  several 
miles,  and  took  another  road  toward  Goldsboro'.  The 
next  day  we  marched  to  Cox's  bridge,  on  the  Neuse 
River.  The  head  of  Gen.  Terry's  column  has  already 
reached  the  bridge,  and  the  road  to  Goldsboro'  is  open 
before  us. 

March  23d,  we  moved  on  to  Goldsboro',  which  place 
had  been  occupied  several  days  by  Gen.  Schofield's 
troops. 


AT   GOLDSBORO  . 

Sherman's  army  now  grouped  around  the  town  of 

Goldsboro',  with   the  promise  of  a  few  weeks  of  rest, 

after  the  long  and  arduous  campaign  of  the  Carolinas ; 

and  orders  were  issued  to  hurry  forward  supplies,  so 

15 


178  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

that  our  army  would  be  ready  for  another,  and  we 
hoped,  a  final  campaign.  Our  camp  was  about  a  mile 
from  the  town ;  and,  in  the  charming  weather  of  early 
spring,  we  were  soon  quite  happy  in  our  new  Carolina 
homes. 

With  the  force  of  Terry  and  Schofield  added  to  his 
army  proper,  there  was  little  doubt  of  Gen.  Sherman's 
ability  to  move  from  Goldsboro'  successfully  against 
the  foe ;  and,  in  concert  with  the  army  before  Peters- 
burg and  Richmond,  to  strike  a  blow  that  should  end 
the  war.  We  were  all  looking  forward  to  such  an 
united  campaign,  when  the  glad  news  of  the  defeat  of 
Lee's  army  and  the  capture  of  Richmond  came  to  us. 

As  the  news  of  this  great  victory  went  through  the 
camps  of  our  army,  a  hundred  thousand  hearts  leaped 
with  gladness,  and  a  hundred  thousand  voices  shouted 
for  joy.  And  when,  with  the  official  news,  came  the 
order  from  Grant  to  Sherman — ''Push  Johnston,  and 
let  us  finish  the  work  at  once," — the  army  was  ready 
and  eager  to  obey  the  command. 


ADVANCE   ON   RALEIGH. 

Johnston  was  between  Goldsboro'  and  Raleigh,  guard- 
ing the  Capital,  with  about  thirty-five  thousand  men. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  Sherman's  columns  moved 
from  Goldsboro'  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy ;  and, 
at  a  swamp  about  ten  miles  out,  the  head  of  our  left 
wing  column  was  confronted  by  Wade  Hampton's  cav- 
alry, and  was  delayed  some  hours. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  179 

The  next  day,  we  moved  on  to  Smithfield.  The 
enemy  had  retired,  upon  hearing  of  our  advance. 

The  next  morning,  while  moving  through  the  town, 
the  news  came  to  us  of  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army. 
Then  we  knew  that  the  war  was  virtually  ended,  and 
that  our  campaign  must  be  short.  We  crossed  the 
Neuse  River  at  Smithfield,  and  pushed  on  toward 
Raleigh. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  our  forces  entered  the 
city,  without  opposition, — the  enemy  having  fallen 
back  toward  Greensboro'. 

April  18th,  Johnston  has  proposed  to  surrender  his 
army,  and  the  agreement  has  been  sent  to  Washington 
for  ratification.  Then  comes  to  us  the  sad  news  of 
President  Lincoln's  assassination,  and  the  whole  army 
is  moved  with  a  deep  feeling  of  sadness  and  indigna- 
tion. 

On  the  22d,  the  Twentieth  corps  was  reviewed  by 
Gen.  Sherman  in  the  streets  of  Raleigh.  Gen.  Grant 
arrived  with  the  President's  rejection  of  the  Sherman- 
Johnston  treaty,  and  on  the  25th  our  army  again  moved 
against  the  enemy.  Our  corps  marched  ten  miles  on 
the  road  to  Holly  Springs,  and  halted,  while  Grant  and 
Sherman  held  a  conference  with  the  rebel  commander, 
which  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  entire 
army. 

On  the  28th,  we  marched  back  to  Raleigh  and  occu- 
pied our  old  camps.  The  war  was  over — our  work  was 
done.  The  rebellion  was  crushed.  The  nation  was 
saved.  No  words  could  tell  our  gladness  at  the  final 
accomplishment  of  this  great  work,  nor  our  deep  sense 


180  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

of  relief  when  we  fully  realized  that  we  had  fought  our 
last  battle,  and  that  soon  we  should  return  to  the  en- 
joyment of  quiet  life  and  peaceful  days  at  home. 


THE   MARCH   TO   WASHINGTON. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  the  army  started  on  the  long 
but  peaceful  march  to  Washington.  Every  step  was 
light,  and  every  heart  beat  quick  at  the  thought  of 
going  home.  It  was  such  a  march  as  we  had  never 
before  performed.  No  picket  duty — no  danger.  Pleas- 
ant marches  by  day  and  undisturbed  rest  by  night. 
Constant  change  of  scenery  and  free  converse  with 
citizens  and  returned  rebel  soldiers,  made  the  march 
interesting  as  well  as  novel. 

May  8th,  we  reached  the  vicinity  of  Richmond,  where 
we  rested  three  days.  Gen.  Meade's  army  had  nearly 
all  preceded  our  own  in  the  northward  march,  and  it 
was  understood  that  the  two  great  armies  of  Meade  and 
Sherman  were  to  be  reviewed  at  Washington  and  then 
disbanded. 

On  the  llth  we  resumed  our  march,  passing  through 
the  late  rebel  capital.  Libby  Prison  and  Castle  Thun- 
der had  lost  all  their  terrors,  and  Richmond  itself 
seemed  an  unimportant  place.  As  we  moved  north- 
ward the  ground  was  all  historic.  Every  stream  had 
its  story  of  battle.  At  Spottsylvania  the  shallow 
graves  and  bleaching  bones  of  our  heroic  dead,  and  the 
wrecks  of  battle  every  where  to  be  seen,  told  how  ter- 
rible had  been  the  strife.  At  Chancellorsville  we  en- 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  181 

tered  upon  our  old  war-paths  again,  and  henceforward 
every  spot  was  familiar  to  the  Seventy-third  Ohio. 

May  19th,  we  reached  the  vicinity  of  Alexandria  and 
went  into  camp. 


THE    GREAT   REVIEW. 

Orders  .were  now  issued  for  the  review  of  the  two 
great  armies.  One  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  return- 
ing veterans  were  to  pass  in  review  before  the  Presi- 
dent and  Gen.  Grant — were  to  be  welcomed  by  the 
President  and  the  people  in  the  capital  of  the  nation 
they  had  helped  to  save. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  occurred  the  review  of  Sheri- 
dan's cavalry  and  of  the  Potomac  army,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  Sherman's  grand  army  passed  in  review 
through  the  capital.  This  was,  doubtless,  the  most 
magnificent  pageant  ever  witnessed  in  America.  Yis- 
itors  were  gathered  here  by  tens  of  thousands,  from  the 
East  and  the  West.  .  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  for  the 
space  of  nearly  three  miles,  was  one  vast  mass  of  peo- 
ple. Not  less  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  citi- 
zens were  gathered  here  to  welcome  the  armies  to  the 
capital.  And  with  flags  and  mottoes,  and  wreaths  and 
flowers,  and  the  glad  shouts  of  thousands  all  along  the 
line  of  march,  the  returning  veterans  were  welcomed 
back  from  the  wars. 

After  the  review  our  brigade  encamped  three  miles 
from  the  city,  on  the  Baltimore  Turnpike.  The  work 
of  disbanding  the  organizations  and  mustering  out  the 
troops  of  these  armies  was  at  once  begun.  This  mus- 


182  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE  } 

tering  out,  however,  had  to  be  done  by  classes,  and  the 
first  orders  did  not  include  our  own  regiment. 


All  the  veteran  regiments  in  the  Twentieth  corps 
were  now  formed  into  a  Provisional  Division,  under 
Gen.  Williams,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  Gen. 
Jeff.  C.  Davis,  of  the  Fourteenth  corps,  and  ordered  to 
Louisville,  Ky.  The  Seventy-third,  Sixty- sixth,  Fifty- 
fifth  and  Eighty-second  Ohio  regiments  were  brig- 
aded together,  under  command  of  Gen.  Robinson,  of 
Ohio.  Our  division  arrived  at  Louisville  on  the  15th 
of  June,  and  had  a  pleasant  encampment  four  miles  out 
on  the  Bardstown  Turnpike. 


MUSTERED    OUT. 

Finally  came  orders  for  our  muster  out  of  service — 
orders  most  gladly  received  by  officers  and  men  alike. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  our  rolls  were  completed,  and 
we  were  formally  mustered  out  of  the  service  of  the 
United  States.  The  regiment  started  at  once  for  Camp 
Dennison,  Ohio,  where,  on  the  24th  of  July,  it  was 
paid  off  and  finally  discharged. 


Thus,  with  only  a  private  journal  and  an  inaccurate 
personal  memory  from  which  to  glean  the  material  for 
a  connected  history  of  the  regiment,  we  have  followed 
it  through  all  its  campaigns  and  battles,  and  endeavored 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  183 

to  present  an  honest  and  plain  recital  of  the  facts  as 
they  transpired  in  our  regimental  history.  It  is  a  story 
of  labors  and  sufferings  endured  through  a  period  of 
service  of  nearly  four  years,  illustrating  most  worthily 
the  patriotic  virtues  of  the  citizen  soldier.  It  is  a 
record  of  heroic  deeds — deeds  of  which  every  member 
and  frie*id  of  the  regiment  will  be  ever  justly  proud. 
I^o  regiment  in  the  public  service  did  more  arduous  or 
honorable  work,  and  few,  if  any,  suffered  more  se- 
verely. During  its  period  of  service  the  regiment 
marched  several  thousand  miles.  It  participated  in 
twenty  formidable  engagements,  several  of  which  were 
among  the  most  sanguinary  battles  of  the  war.  It  sus- 
tained a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  men  killed 
and  died  of  wounds,  five  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
wounded  in  battle,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
men  who  died  of  disease.  In  every  position  where  it 
was  called  to  do  or  suffer,  it  made  an  honorable  record. 
In  its  brigade,  division  and  corps,  it  always  sustained  a 
high  reputation  for  the  gallantry  of  its  officers  and  the 
heroism  of  its  men.  And  now  that  the  great  struggle  is 
ended  triumphantly  to  the  Union  arms — now  that  peace 
and  prosperity  again  rest  upon  the  land — now  that 
the  nation  is  redeemed  from  the  rule  of  wrong  princi- 
ples and  conscienceless  men,  the  returned  volunteer 
will  be  proud  and  grateful  that  he  was  permitted  to 
bear  a  part  in  the  great  work  of  saving  the  Republic ; 
and  while  our  country  rises  to  a  new  and  higher  life, 
may  the  grass  grow  green  on  the  graves  of  our  heroic 
dead,  and  the  virtues  of  a  patriotic  and  Christian  man- 
hood be  cherished  by  the  living  ! 


ROSTER  AND  MILITARY  HISTORIES 

OP   THE 

FIELD,  STAFF  AND  LINE  OFFICERS 

IN    THE 

ORIGINAL  AND  VETERAN  ORGANIZATIONS 

OF   THE 

SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY, 


FIELD  AND  STAFF  OFFICERS. 

Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  SAMUEL  H.  HURST. 
Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain  Co.  "  A,"  Nov.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Major,  June  21st,  1862.  Promoted  to 
Lieut.  Col.,  June  27th,  1864.  Commissioned 
Colonel,  July  10th,  1864 — not  mustered.  Ap- 
pointed Colonel  by  Brevet,  March  13th,  1865. 
Appointed  Brig.  Gen.  by  Brevet,  with  rank  dating 
March  13th,  1865.  Commanded  the  regiment  one 
year  and  ten  months.  Served  full  term. 

Colonel  OELAND  SMITH. 

Appointed  Colonel,  Oct.   4th,  1861.     Mustered  as 
Lieut.  Col.,  Nov.  26th,  1861.     Organized  the  regi- 


V 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  185 

ment.  Mustered  as  Colonel,  Dec.  30th,  1861. 
Commanded  the  regiment  one  year.  Subse- 
quently commanded  Second  Brigade,  Second  Di- 
vision, Eleventh  Army  Corps.  Resigned  Feb.  17th, 
1864. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  JACOB  HYER. 

Appointed  Lieut.  Col.,  Oct.  4th,  1861.  Mustered 
Dec.  30th,  1861.  Resigned  June  21st,  1862. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  RICHARD  LONG. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  4th,  1861. 
Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and  appointed  Ad- 
jutant, Nov.  26th,  1861.  Promoted  to  Major, 
Dec.  20th,  1861.  Promoted  to  Lieut.  Col.,  June 
21st,  1862.  Commissioned  as  Colonel,  Feb.  17th, 
1864 — not  mustered.  Detached  on  Staff  of  Maj. 
Gen.  Howard.  Commanded  the  regiment  ten 
months.  Resigned  June  27th,  1864. 

Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  THOMAS  W.  HIGGINS. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  13th,  1861. 
Promoted  to  Captain  of  Co.  "  B,"  Nov.  20th, 
1861.  Promoted  to  Major,  June  27th,  1864. 
Commissioned  Lieut.  Col.,  July  10th,  1864 — not 
mustered.  Appointed  Lieut.  Col.  by  Brevet,  with 
rank  dating  March  13th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

Surgeon  JONAS  P.  SAFFORD. 

Appointed  Surgeon,  Oct.  24th,  1861.     Dismissed 
sentence   of    General   Court-martial,   Dec.   29l 

1862. 


186  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

Surgeon  ISAAC  N.  HIMES. 

Appointed  Assistant  Surgeon,  Oct.  26th,  1861. 
Promoted  to  Surgeon,  March  1st,  1863.  Mustered 
out  at  expiration  of  original  term  of  the  regi- 
ment, Dec.  29th,  1864. 

Surgeon  JOHN  C.  PRESTON. 

Appointed  and  mustered  Assistant  Surgeon,  April 
8th,  1863.  Promoted  to  Surgeon,  April  9th,  1865. 
Mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  July  20th,  1865. 

Chaplain  JOSEPH  J.  HILL. 

Appointed  Chaplain,    May,  1862.     Resigned  Dec. 

1862. 

Adjutant  FREDERICK  C.  SMITH. 

Commissioned  as  First  Lieutenant  and  appointed 
Adjutant,  Dec.  26th,  1861.  Died  of  fever,  at 
Weston,  West  Va.,  April  15th,  1862. 

Adjutant  JOHN  SPENCE. 

Enlisted  Oct.  15th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Nov.  16th,  1862.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  appointed  Adjutant,  March  1st,  1863. 
Resigned  March  16th,  1864, 

Adjutant  JOHN  B.  SMITH. 

Enlisted  Aug.  12th,  1862.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  appointed  Adjutant,  June  1st,  1865. 
Mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  July  20th, 

1865. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      187 

Quartermaster  WILLIAM  D.  WESSON. 

Commissioned  as  First  Lieutenant  and  appointed 
Quartermaster,  Oct.  22d,  1861.  Appointed  Com- 
missary of  Subsistence,  with  the  rank  of  Captain, 
July  17th,  1862. 

Quartermaster  EGBERT  M.  RODGERS. 

Promoted,  by  reques't  of  Gen.  Sigel,  from  the  ranks 
of  a  Virginia  regiment  and  commissioned  by  Gov. 
Tod,  Nov.  20th,  1862.  Detached  on  Gen.  Sigel's 
Staff.  Resigned  Nov.  5th,  1863. 

Quartermaster  WILLIAM  H.  ECKMAN. 
Enlisted  Dec.  23d,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant April  25th,  1863.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, March  30th,  1864.  Appointed  Quarter- 
master, May  llth,  1864.  Resigned,  March  30th, 
1865. 

Quartermaster  JAMES  EARL. 

Enlisted  Oct.  16th,  1861.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  appointed  Quartermaster,  March  27th, 
1865.  Served  full  term. 

Assistant  Surgeon  JAMES  SIGAFOOS. 
Appointed  Sept.,  1862.     Resigned  Nov.,  1862. 

Assistant  Surgeon  WILLIAM  RICHESON. 
Appointed  March,  1863.     Resigned  June  27th,  1864. 

Assistant  Surgeon  SMITH  D.  STEER. 

Appointed  Feb.  1st,  1865.  Mustered  out  with  the 
Regiment,  July  20th,  1865. 


188  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


LINE    OFFICERS. 

Captain  THOMAS  LUCAS. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain  Co.  «F,"  Nov.  20th,  1861.  Com- 
missioned as  Major,  July  10th,  1864.  Not  mus- 
tered. Resigned,  Sept.  llth,  1864. 

Captain   SILAS  IRION. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  29th,  1861. 
Promoted  to  Captain  Co.  "G,"  Dec.  17th,  2861. 
Resigned,  July  18th,  1863. 

Captain  EDWARD  H.  ALLEN. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain  Co.  "  C,"  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Re- 
signed, March  1st,  1863. 

Captain  LEWIS  H.  BURKETT. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain  Co.  "I,"  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Died 

*  at  Alexandria,  Ya.,  Sept.  12th,  1862,  of  wounds 
received  in  second  Bull  Run  battle,  Aug.  30th, 
1862. 

Captain  THOMAS  BEACH. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  4th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain  Co.  "  D,"  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Dis- 
charged by  reason  of  physical  disability,  Dec.  24th, 
1862. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  189 

Captain  JOHN  V.  PATTON. 

Appointed  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  20th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain  Co.  «K,"  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Re- 
signed, March  9th,  1864. 

Captain  JUSTUS  G.  McScnooLER. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  October,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Discharged 
by  reason  of  physical  disability,  Dec.  24th,  1862. 

Captain  JOHN  EARHART. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  October,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Resigned, 
April  17th,  1862. 

Captain  LUTHER  M.  BOOKWALTER, 

Enlisted,  Oct.  12th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieuten- 
ant, Nov.  9th,  1861.  Promoted  to  Captain,  Aug. 
5th,  1862.  Died,  Oct.  29th,  1863,  of  wounds  re- 
ceived in  the  midnight  charge  at  Lookout  Valley, 
Tennessee. 

Captain  JOHN  D.  MADEIRA. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  Aug.  6th,  1862.  Mustered  out, 
Dec.  29th,  1864,  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term 
of  service. 

Captain  JAMES  Q.  BARNES. 

Enlisted,  November,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Dec.  30th,  1861.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
Sept.  22d,  1862.  Mustered  out,  Dec.  29th,  1864, 
by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service. 


190  JOURNAL- HISTORY  OF  THE 

Captain  GEORGE  M.  DOHERTY. 

Appointed  First  Lieutenant,  Nov.  20th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  Jan.  1st,  1863.  Died,  July  13th, 
1863,  of  wounds  received  in  battle  at  Gettysburg. 

Captain  ARCHIBALD  LYLRAND. 

Appointed  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  Feb.  8th,  1863.  Resigned,  Oct. 
8th,  1864. 

Captain  BENJAMIN  F.  STONE. 

Appointed  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Ap- 
pointed Adjutant,  June  20th,  1862.  Promoted  to 
Captain,  March  1st,  1863.  Mustered  out,  Dec. 
29th,  1864,  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of 
service. 

Captain  HENRY  HINSON. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Nov.  20th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  May  22d,  1862.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  March  1st,  1864.  Resigned, 
October  20th,  1864. 

Captain  JAMES  S.  McCoMMON. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant.  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  July  20th,  1862.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  March  28th,  1864.  Discharged 
on  account  of  wounds  received  in  battle,  at  Kene- 
saw  Mountain. 


fJT      SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  191 

Captain  ABISHA  DOWNING. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  Sept.  22d,  1862.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  March  29th,  1864.  Commis- 
sioned as  Major,  July  18th,  1865.  Not  mustered. 
Served  full  term. 

Captain  PRESLEY  T.  TALBOTT. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  15th,  1861.  Appointed  Captain,  April 
18th,  1864.  Resigned,  June  25th,  1865. 

Captain  JAMES  C.  McKELL. 

Enlisted,  October,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, April  15th,  1862.  Promoted  to  First 
Lieutenant,  Dec.  4th,  1862.  Promoted  to  Cap- 
tain, April  18th,  1864.  Resigned,  Jan.  1st,  1865. 

Captain  DAVID  P.  RENNIE. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  24th,  1862.  Pro- 
moted to  Captain,  Sept.  20th,  1864.  Served  full 
term. 

Captain  SAMUEL  R.  PETERS. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  19th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, March  1st,  1863.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, and  appointed  Adjutant,  March  28th,  1864. 
Promoted  to  Captain,  Jan.  1st,  1865.  Resigned, 
May  28th,  1865. 


192  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Captain  WILLIAM  A.  PONTIUS. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  26th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, April  18th,  1864.  Promoted  to  First 
Lieutenant,  June  18th,  1864.  Promoted  to  Cap- 
tain, March  26th,  1865.  Discharged,  May  19th, 
1865,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  battle  at 
Bentonville,  North  Carolina. 

Captain  SAMUEL  AMBROSE. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  15th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Sept.  23d,  1864.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
March  28th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

Captain  DAVID  A.  LAMB. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  12th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Sept.  24th,  1864.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
March  28th,  1865.  Resigned,  June  30th,  1865. 

Captain  WILLIAM  B.  DAVIS. 

Enlisted,  Nov.  12th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Oct.  28th,  1864.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
March  28th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

Captain  JOHN  W.  ADAMS. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  19th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Nov.  16th,  1863.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, April  14th,  1864.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
April  9th,  1865.  Resigned,  May  30th,  1865. 

Captain  MARTIN  L.  BUCHWALTER. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  12th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Jan.  1st,  1865.  Promoted  to  Captain,  May 
22d,  1865.  Served  full  term. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  193 

Captain  ALBERT  H.  SANDERS. 

Enlisted,  Nov.  5th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, April  9th,  1865.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
June  1st,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

Captain  JOHN  H.  MARTIN. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  15th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, May  20th,  1864.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
June  22d,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

Captain  As  A.  F.  COUCH. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  15th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Jan.  4th,  1865.  Promoted  to  Captain, 
June  25th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

First  Lieutenant  JOHN  I.  THROCKMORTON. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Nov.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  Aug.  5th,  1862.  Re- 
signed, Nov.  23d,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant  GEORGE  LAUMAN. 

Appointed  First  Liestenant,  Nov.  20th,  1861.  Re- 
signed, May  22d,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant  JAMES  H.  DWYER. 

Appointed  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  18th,  1861.  Re- 
signed, March  8th,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant  THOMAS  M.  GRAY. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  9th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  23d,  1861.  Re- 
signed, March  19th,  1862. 

16 


194  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

First  Lieutenant  JOHN  F.  MARTIN. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  23d,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  March  18th,  1862.  Re- 
signed, Dec.  24th,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant  J.  W.  I.  STEVENSON. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  3d,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  Aug.  6th,  1862.  Re- 
signed,  Sept.  23d,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant  JOHN  KINNEY. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Oct.  14th,  1861.  Pro- 
moted to  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  30th,  1861.  Re- 
signed, March  24th,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant  SAMUEL  FELLERS. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Dec.  13th,  1861. 
Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  March  8th,  1862. 
Resigned  Aug.  17th,  1863. 

First  Lieutenant  DAVID  L.  GREINER. 

Enlisted  Nov.  llth,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, March  8th,  1862.  Promoted  to  First 
Lieutenant,  Feb.  28th,  1863.  Resigned  June  22d, 
1863. 

First  Lieutenant  JOSHUA  A.  DAVIS. 

Enlisted  Oct.  15th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, May  12th,  1862.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, March  1st,  1864.  Discharged  on  account 
of  wounds  received  in  battle  at  New  Hope 
Church,  Ga. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  195 

First  Lieutenant  RUFUS  HOSLER. 

Enlisted  Oct.  26th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Oct.  25th,  1862.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Dec.  23d,  1862.  Discharged  Nov.,  1864, 
on  account  of  wounds  received  in  battle  at  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Ga. 

First  Lieutenant  HORACE  S.  CLARK. 

Enlisted  Nov.  19th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant Aug.  30th,  1862.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, Dec.  24th,  1862.  Disqharged  Oct.  23d, 
1863,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  battle  at 
Gettysburg. 

Firs  tLieutenant  JOSEPH  P.  TALBOTT. 

Enlisted  Oct.  15th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Jan.  1st,  1863.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, March  30th,  1864.  Resigned  June  18th, 
1864. 

First  Lieutenant  ISAAC  N.  HAWKINS. 

Enlisted  Oct.  22d,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Oct.  7th,  1863.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, March  30th,  1864.  Discharged  May  15th, 
1865,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  battle  at 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

First  Lieutenant  CHARLES  W.  STONE. 

Enlisted  Nov.  4th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, March  1st,  1863.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, July  1st,  1863.  Resigned  July  5th,  1864. 


196  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

First  Lieutenant  JOHNSON  E.  F.  JACKSON. 

Enlisted,  November,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, March  1st,  1863.  Promoted  to  First  Lieu- 
tenant, March  29th,  1864.  Resigned,  Jan.  2d, 
1865. 

First  Lieutenant  SAMUEL  C.  GLOVER. 

Appointed  First  Lieutenant,  April  18th,  1864.  Pro- 
moted by  the  President,  to  be  Commissary  of  Sub- 
sistence, with  the  rank  of  Captain,  July,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant  JOHN  BURKE. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  llth,  1861.  Appointed.  First  Lieu- 
tenant, March  28th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

First  Lieutenant  THOMAS  F.  HAMILTON. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  14th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieuten- 
ant, March  28th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

First  Lieutenant  JOHN  HILLENBRAND. 

Enlisted,  Dec.  llth,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, March  28th,  1865.  Served  full  term, 

First  Lieutenant  JAMES  FERGUSON. 

Enlisted,  Dec.  16th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, April  1st,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

First  Lieutenant  JAMES  Ross. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  26th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant, May  1st,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

First  Lieutenant  MICHAEL  S.  MACKERLT. 

Enlisted,  Nov.  20th,  1861.  Appointed  First  jLieu- 
tenant,  June  25th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 


SEVENTY-THIRD   OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  197 

First  Lieutenant  JOHN  C.  ALTON. 

Enlisted,  Dec.  9th,  1861.  Appointed  First  Lieuten- 
ant, June  25th,  1865.  Served  full  term. 

Second  Lieutenant  CHARLES  W.  TRIMBLE. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Dec.  30th,  1861. 
Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run,  Aug.  30th, 

1862. 

Second  Lieutenant  DAYTON  MORGAN. 

Enlisted,  Nov.  9th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Aug.  5th,  1862.  Resigned,  Oct.  25th, 

1862. 

Second  Lieutenant  JOHN  MITCHELL. 

Appointed  Second  Lieutenant,  Nov.  20th,  1861.  Re- 
signed, Dec.  23d,  1862. 

Second  Lientenant  EDWARD  H.  MILLER. 

Enlisted,  Nov.  llth,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, March  19th,  1862.  Resigned,  Feb.  1st 
1863. 

Second  Lieutenant  IGDALIAH  B.  DRESBACH. 

Enlisted,  Oct.  26th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, March  1st,  1863.  Resigned,  Aug  12th, 

1863. 

Second  Lieutenant  ROBERT  E.  BEECHER. 

Enlisted,  September,  1862.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, Dec.  5th,  1862.  Appointed  by  the  Presi- 
dent "  A.  A.  G."  with  the  rank  of  Captain,  July, 
1864. 


198  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

Second  Lieutenant  JOHN  B.  IRA. 

Enlisted  Dec.  16th,  1861.  Appointed  Second  Lieu- 
tenant, April  8th,  1863.  Discharged,  Oct.  23d, 
1863,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  battle,  at 
Gettysburg. 


ROLL    OF    NAMES 

AND 

BRIEF   MILITARY   HISTORIES 

OP      THE 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES 

IN      THE 

ORIGINAL    AND    VETERAN    ORGANIZATIONS 

OP      T  H  B 

SEVENTY-THIRD   OHIO 

VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF  OFFICERS. 

Sergeant  Major  NATHAN  C.  LITTLER. 

Appointed  Sergeant  Major,  March  1st,  1865.  Served 
full  term. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant  JAMES  TEMPLIN. 

Appointed  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  May  14th,  1863. 
Discharged,  on  account  of  physical  disability,  Dec. 
31st,  1863. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant  MAHLON  BENNETT. 

Appointed  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  March  27th, 
1865.  Served  full  terra. 


200  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Commissary  Sergeant  ERSKINE  CARSON. 

Appointed  Commissary  Sergeant,  Aug.  5th,  1862. 
Discharged,  Oct.  29th,  1862,  on  account  of  wounds 
received  in  second  Bull  Run  battle. 

Commissary  Sergeant  GEORGE  LEMON. 

Appointed  Commissary  Sergeant,  Feb.  16th,  1864. 
Served  full  term. 

Hospital  Steward  WILLIAM  H.  HUGHES. 

Appointed  Hospital  Steward,  April  26th,  1865. 
Served  full  term. 

Chief  Musician  THADDEUS  M.  PACKARD. 

Detached  from  Thirty-third  Massachusetts  Volun- 
teers. Appointed  Chief  Musician,  March  1st,  1864. 
Mustered  out,  June,  1865. 

Chief  Musician  JOHN  D.  STUCKEY. 

Appointed  Chief  Musician,  July  1st,  1865.  Served 
full  term. 

Chief  Musician  CYRUS  F.  WILSON. 

Appointed  Chief  Musician,  July  1st,  1865.  Served 
full  term. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      201 

COMPANY  "A,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO.;  J 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  David  M.  Lyons.     Served  full  term. 

First  Sergeant  George  W.  Rudel.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  John  P.  Jones.     Died  of  wounds  at  Chatta- 
nooga, 1864. 

Sergeant  John  H.  Kreoll.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Re- 
serve Corps,  1863. 

Sergeant  Charles  E.  Long.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Ben- 
tonville,  N.  C.,  1865. 

Sergeant  Calvin  Rambo.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  1864. 

Sergeant  Francis  M.  Davis.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  John  Minser.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  William  J.  Wilson<     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  S.  Webster  Templin.    Died  at  New  Creek, 
"Va.,  1862. 

Corporal  William  B.  Rennard.    Discharged  for  physi- 
cal disability,  1862. 

Corporal  Levi  J.  Buchwalter.     Served  original  term. 

Corporal  Adelbert  D.  Zehrung.    Discharged  on  account 
of  wounds,  1862. 

Corporal  Socrates  S.  Bitzer.    Died  of  wounds  at  Get- 
tysburg, 1863. 

Corporal  John  H.  Eckle.     Died  of  wounds  received  at 
Resacca,  Ga.,  1864. 

Corporal  William  C.  Templin.     Died  of  wounds  at  Get- 
tysburg, 1863.  .^/g 
17 


202  JOURNAL-HISTORY.  OF  THE' 

Corporal  Allen  Yapple.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettys~> 

burg,  1863. 

Corporal  Robert  S.  McCartney.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  Rufus  D.  Pierce.     Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.y 

1864. 

Corporal  Hiram  A.  Gilbreath.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  Henry  C.  Sleigh.     Discharged  on  account  of 

wounds,  May,  1865. 

Corporal  William  Dorman.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  Levi  Peddycourt.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  Henry  Seymore.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  Moses  Hixenbaugh.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  Joseph  Shoemaker.     Served  from  1862. 
William  Ankrom.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Franklin  Brokau.     Served  full  term, 
William  J.  Brokau.     Served  original  term. 
Solomon  Ballinger.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Bentonville^ 

1865. 

\ndrew  Birch.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 
l.ohn  G.  Butler.     Discharged  for  phyisical  disability, 
Philip  T.  Baum.     Served  original  term. 
John  Barton.     Discharged  for  physical  disability. 
Thomas  Coey.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps* 
Birten  Crider.     Died  of  wounds  at  second  Bull  Run, 
David  Consolver.     Discharged  for  physical  disability. 
George  Chamberlain.     Died  at  Alexandria,  Ya.,  1862, 
Charles  Clinger.     Served  full  term. 
Lewis  Crites.     Discharged  for  physical  disability. 
Simon  Chester.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
William  T.  Clark.     Served  original  term. 
Theodore  Clark.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  203 

James  H.  Cox.     Served  full  term. 

Thomas  Dawson.     Discharged  for  disability. 

William  Dorris.     Discharged  for  disability. 

James  Doimely.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

James  Dehaven.     Mustered  out  at  Hospital,  1865. 

Jefferson  Francisco.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Nathan  Ferris.     Killed  in  battle  at  Kenesaw  Mountain. 

William  Faumliner.    Discharged  for  physical  disability. 

Alexander  Gorman.     Discharged  for  disability. 

James  Gregg.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Peter  Goodman.     Served  full  term. 

Isaiah  Hanmore.     Served  full  term. 

William  J.  Hoy.     Discharged  for  disability. 

George  Ingmire.    Mustered  out  at  Hospital,  May,  1865. 

Snoden  Ingmire.     Discharged  for  disability,  1864. 

Thomas  Ingmire.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Austin  P.  Jones.     Served  full  term. 

David  Justice.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Joseph  Johnson.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Henry  Kerns.     Served  full  term. 

James  Lindsey.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Solomon  Lindsey.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Ben- 
tonville. 

Milton  Lister.     Served  full  term. 

William  N.  Lowe.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Joseph  E.  Moss.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 

William  McGee.     Died  at  Winchester,  Va.,  July,  1862. 

William  Morgan.     Discharged  for  disability. 

William  H.  Morgan.     Discharged  for  disability. 


204  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Martin  V.  Morrison.     Served  full  term. 

Robert  S.  McKi  trick.     Served  original  term. 

Washington  Pence,     Discharged  for  disability. 

William  C.  Pierce.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

Alfred  Peecher.     Discharged  for  disability. 

David  Poling.     Served  full  term. 

William  Reid.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Allen  Reid.     Supposed  to  have  died  at  Libby  prison. 

Jacob  Reid.     Served  original  term. 

Thomas  Reedy.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettys- 
burg, 

Joseph  W.  Randall.     Served  full  term. 

John  W.  Smith.     Served  original  term. 

William  H.  Sain.     Discharged  for  disability. 

George  W.  Sweet.     Served  original  term. 

Edward  H.  Sweet.     Supposed  to  have  died  at  Wash- 
ington. 

Asa  Sullivan.     Killed  in  battle  at  Lookout  Valley. 

Solomon  Seymore.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Edward  Thomas.     Died  at  Winchester,  Va.,  1862. 

Isaac  Tatman.    Died  of  wounds  received  at  Resacca,  Ga. 

William  Thomas.     Served  full  term. 

Washington  J.  Watson.     Served  full  term. 
Robert  Wilson.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

MEN  JOINED   FOR  DUTY  IN  1862. 

Harvey  Black.     Served  from  date  of  enlistment. 
Lafayette  Buchwalter.     Served  from  date  of  enlistment. 
George  Creashbaum.     Died  at  Washington  City. 
William  F.  Childers.     Served  from  date  of  enlistment. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  205 

Thomas  Goodman.  Mustered  oujt.at  Hospital,  May,  1865. 

Silas  D.  Jones.     Discharged  for  disability. 

George  Sidenbender.     Discharged  at  Camp  Dennison, 

1864. 

John  W.  Thomas.     Served  from  date  of  enlistment. 
Peter  B.  Zehrung.     Mustered  out   at  Hospital,  May, 

1865. 
Jacob  T.  Zehrung.     Mustered  out  at  hospital. 

MEN  JOINED  FOR  DUTY  IN   1864. 

Samuel  Bell.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Josephus  Cooper.    Served  from  enlistment. 

William  M.  Childs.     Died  in  Andersonville  prison. 

Joseph  Collins.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Wesley  Carrick.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Thornton  Congrove.     Served  from  enlistment. 

George  W.  Haws.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  Miller.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 

Henry  Poling.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Daniel  J.  Routt.     Died  at  Madison,  Ind. 

Timothy  A.  Routt.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Jacob  Raub.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Washington  Hanmore.    Killed  in  battle  at  Bentonville. 

Charles  B.  Wilkins.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Joseph  D.  Shirkey.     Served  from  enlistment. 

MEN    TRANSFERRED   FROM    SEVENTY-NINTH    OHIO   VOL- 
UNTEERS. 

Eleazar  Gorman.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Jeremiah  Danight.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Robert  Goodman.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


206  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

COMPANY  «B,""BEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  Charles  Shepherd.  Killed  in  battle  at 
second  Bull  Run. 

First  Sergeant  Joseph  W.  Reid.     Served  from  1862. 

Sergeant  Milton  Chandler.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Sergeant  Winfield  Underwood.  Discharged  to  accept 
promotion. 

Sergeant  Benjamin  F.  Morrison.  Killed  in  battle  at 
second  Bull  Run. 

Sergeant  George  Wisensa.     Served  original  term. 

Sergeant  Johnson  Pryor.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Sergeant  Thomas  F.  Rice.  Died  of  wounds  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Sergeant  Lafayette  Abbott.  Discharged  on  account  of 
wounds. 

Sergeant  Richard  Enderlin.  Discharged  on  account  of 
wounds. 

Sergeant  Wilson  Riley.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Henry  Lorback.     Served  from  March,  1864. 

Sergeant  John  B.  Holbrook.  Transferred  from  Sev- 
enty-ninth Ohio. 

Corporal  George  W.  Bennett.    Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  Isaiah  McJunkins.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Jacob  Swable.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  John  Warren.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  William  E.  Haines.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Get- 
tysburg. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  207 

Corporal  Jacob  Miller.  Discharged  on  account  oi 
wounds,  1865. 

Corporal  Samuel  Ward.     Served  original  term. 

Corporal  James  H.  Smith.  Killed  in  battle,  at  secono 
Bull  Run. 

Corporal  James  S.  Lawson.  Discharged  on  account  oi 
wounds. 

Corporal  Samuel  Turner.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Corporal  Henry  Lawson.     Served  original  term. 

Corporal  William  Colgrove.     Served  from  1864. 

Corporal  Samuel  M.  Hatfield.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Casper  Montgomery.     Served  from  1862. 

Corporal  William  H.  Shade.     Served  from  Feb.,  1864. 

Corporal  William  H.  Eowe.     Served  from  Feb.,  1864. 

Corporal  James  H.  Harvey.  Transferred  from  Sev- 
enty-ninth Ohio. 

John  Adams.     Served  full  term. 

Samuel  Allison.     Served  original  term. 

James  Awmach.     Detached  in  Rigby's  Battery. 

John  Burch.     Served  original  term. 

John  B.  Butler.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Dandridge  Busch.     Detached  in  DeBeck's  Battery. 

Lewis  Blake.     Discharged  for  <disa'bility. 

Elias  Cunningham.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

William  R.  CalL  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

William  Cline,     Served  original  term. 

John  Couch.     Died  at  Aquia  Creek,  Jan.,  1863. 

Washington  Detty.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

John  H.  Double.    Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  March,  1862. 


208  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Zachariah  Double.     Furnished  substitute,  1862. 

Richard  Ellington.     Discharged  for  disability. 

George  England.     Served  full  term. 

John  C.  Fisher.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Charles  Fulcher.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

John  Fairbanks.     Served  original  term. 

George  Gildow.     Served  original  term. 

George  Haynes.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

James  Holbrook.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Permanio  Harry.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

William  H.  Jackman.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Michael  Kennedy.     Served  original  term. 

Daniel  Kirkendall.     Died  of  wounds  at  Chattanooga. 

David  R.  Lee.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

Thomas  Lightle.     Discharged  for  disability. 

August  Loumanhouser.     Served  full  term. 

Joshua  Lee.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

William  Labar.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Cross  Keys,  Va. 

Joseph  Litterst.     Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 

Levi  Miller.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

George  Miller.     Served  full  term. 

George  W.  McGehee.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

David  D.  Mitten.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

John  McGehee.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

James  F.  May.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

William  May.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Peach-tree  Creek.  1 

Warren  Miller.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Isaiah  McCandless.     Died  at  Weston,  Va.,  1862. 

George  Nixon.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettys- 
burg. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  209 

Elias  S.  Ostrander.     Served  original  term. 
Jeremiah  Price.     Died  at  home,  1865. 
Cyrus  Parker.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
William  Price.     Discharged  for  disability. 
George  Pontius.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
William  Rose.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Jesse  Rickey.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Levi  Russell.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Joseph  T.  Shade.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 
Albert  Steineger.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Gotleib  Sheeler.     Served  full  term. 
John  W.  Selders.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
David  Schoonover.     Served  full  term. 
Daniel  C.  Smith.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Samuel  A.  Shattuck.     Served  original  term. 
Benjamin  Shattuck.     Served  original  term. 
Nathan  Thompson.     Served  original  term. 
Joseph  Terry.     Discharged  by  order  of  War  Depart- 
ment. 

John  Terry.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Albert  Underwood.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Lewis  Weiss.     Served  full  term. 
Samuel  A.  Williams.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Charles  Wooster.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Adam  Wilkie.     Deserted. 
John  M.  Wilson.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
William  W.  Williams.    Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
Cyrus  B.  Williams.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Robert  Ward.     Served  full  term. 
Lewis  Zook.     Served  original  term. 


210  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


MEN  JOINED  FOR  DUTY  IN  1862, 

Theobald  Deihl.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 

Frederick  Heckler.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Absalom  Hissey.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain. 

Martin  Knece.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Samuel  Knece.    Served  from  enlistment. 

William  Linton.     Died  at  Washington,  1863. 

Samuel  Mellon.     Served  from  enlistment. 

"Lewis  Montgomery.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

Henry  Miller.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Amos  Nungester.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Joseph  Nelson,     Served  from  enlistment, 

Amos  T.  Reid.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  McLuens.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

Alexander  Cavit.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

Philip  Houk.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Edwin  Matthews.     Served  from  enlistm-ent, 

John  W.  Arledge.     Served  from  enlistment. 

John  Jenkins.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

MEN  JOINED   FOR  DUTY  IN   1864. 

John  W.  Price.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Valentine  Bowman.     Served  from  enlsstment. 

Benjamin  Esker.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  S.  Ditler.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Franklin  Brown.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Henry  C.  Pitman.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  211 

William  Clark.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Daniel  May.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  1864. 
James  H.  McCoy.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  1864. 
David  McJunkins.     Died  at  Nashville,  1864. 
John  Flesch.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Valentine  Baker.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Martin  V.  B.  Clifford.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Hiram  Cochran.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Thomas  Elsey.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Joshua  Ellington.     Served  from  enlistment. 
William  D.  Matthews.     Served  from  enlistment. 
William  W.  Berry.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

MEN  TRANSFERRED   FROM   THE  SEVENTY-NINTH  OHIO  VOL- 
UNTEERS. 

Benjamin  N.  Anson.     Mustered  out  with  regiment. 
Abel  T.  Newberry.     Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 


COMPANY  «C,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  Joseph  L.  Devese.     Killed  in  battle  at 

Lookout  Valley. 
First    Sergeant    Jerome    Holloway.     Served    original 

term. 

First  Sergeant  John  W.  Wilson.     Served  full  term. 
Sergeant   Allison  W.  Brown.     Discharged  to    accept 

promotion,  1862. 


212  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Sergeant  Isaac  C.  Nelson.  Discharged  to  accept  pro- 
motion, 1862. 

Sergeant  Hiram  Lewis.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Robert  E.  Cox.  Killed  in  battle  of  New  Hope 
Church,  Ga. 

Sergeant  Joseph  B.  Brooks.     Served  from  1862. 

Sergeant  Chester  M.  Engle.     Served  from  1862. 

Sergeant  Charles  Glenn.     Served  from  1862. 

Corporal  John  Robinson.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  Howard  A.  Turner,  Sr.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Corporal  David  F.  Nixon.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Re- 
serve Corps. 

Corporal  Joshua  C.  Ross.  Died  at  Clarksburg,  Ya.,  1863. 

Corporal  Ira  W.  Booton.     Served  original  term. 

Corporal  Charles  Carroll.  Discharged  on  account  of 
wounds. 

Corporal  Rensalaer  Clements.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Corporal  Walter  H.  Howson.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Edward  H.  Wilson.     Served  from  1862. 

Corporal  Patrick  Trainer.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  A.  Scott  Watkins.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  Daniel  G.  Bowsher.     Served  from  1862. 

Corporal  John  S.  Neff.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Re- 
serve Corps. 

Corporal  John  M.  Wright.     Served  from  1862. 

Corporal  William  Satchel.    Served  from  February,  1864. 

Corporal  Nathan  Lewis.    Served  from  February,  1864. 

Corporal  Henry  E.  Foos.  Transferred  from  Seventy- 
ninth  Ohio. 


SEVENTY-THIRD   OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  213 

Isaac  Ater.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
Abraham  Anderson.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
William  F.  Adams.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Riley  Bowers.      Discharged  by  order  of  Gen.  Rose- 

crans. 
William  T.  Brown.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  New 

Hope  Church. 

Peter  Brown.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Benjamin  Brown.     Discharged  for  disability. 
James  A.  Brown.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Robert  Carroll.     Discharged  for  disability. 
John  Clark.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
James  V.  Clark.     Served  original  term. 
Samuel  Colston.     Served  original  term. 
Isaac  Crago.     Discharged  for  disability. 
William  W.  Crow.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  second 

Bull  Run. 
William  A.  Clifton.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull 

Run. 

James  A.  Depoy.     Served  full  term* 
Frank  Esker.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Sampson  Evans.     Served  full  terra. 
William  Farlow.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Isaac  Fowler.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
George  W.  Fenimore.     Served  original  term. 
John  W.  Godden.    Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
James  W.  Henry.     Difid  at  Winchester,  Va.,  1862. 
Asa  Harper.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
Patrick  Henry.     Died  near  Louden,  Tenn. 
John  W.  Hitch.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Joseph  Heitzman.     Died  in  Hospital,  1862. 


214  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Clement  Hutton.     Served  full  term. 
David  R.  Hurst.     Died  at  Sperryville,  Va.,  1862. 
David  Harvey.     Died  near  Franklin,  Va.,  1862. 
Thomas  K  Harper.     Died  at  Winchester,  Va.,  1862. 
Michael  Kavanah.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
William  W.  Lewis.     Died  at  Petersburg,  W.  Va.,  1862. 
Noble  Lewis.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Peach  Tree 

Creek. 

Harvey  W.  Lewis.     Died  at  Franklin,  Va.,  1862. 
Jesse  Lewis.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
Michael  Lynch.     Served  original  term. 
Ira  W.  McDaniel.     Died  at  home,  1862. 
Allen  McDaniel.     Served  original  term. 
Henry  Neiffer.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Lewis  Nail.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
David  Paine.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
William  Paine.     Deserted. 

Jesse  Pence.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
Edmund  Porter.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Resacca. 
John  Ray.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Franklin  Redd.    Died  of  wounds  received  at  New  Hope 

Church. 

John  Sosman.     Died  at  Sperryville,  Va,,  1862. 
Lewis  A.  Sanford.     Died  of  wounds  at  Gettysburg. 
Benjamin  Shockley.     Discharged  for  disability. 
John  Soider.     Served  full  term. 
John  J.  Seymore.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Paul  Sowers.     Served  original  term. 
George  Selby.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
Joseph  E.  Timmons.     Died  of  wounds  at  Gettysburg. 
Edwin  D.  Throne.     Discharged  for  disability. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY,  215 

Nelson  Tull.     Discharged  for  disability, 
Howard  A.  Turner.     Served  original  term. 
Frederick  Vincent.     Discharged  for  disability, 
Miley  B.  Wesson.     Served  full  term. 
Samuel  M.  Wiley.     Discharged  for  disability, 

MEN   JOINED   FOR   DUTY  IN  1862. 

William  Billings.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps* 
William  Glenn.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
Ezra  Hardesty.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
William  Hagley.     Supposed  to  have  died  at  Nashville, 
Benjamin  0.  Heap.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Re-* 

sacca. 

Purnell  Justus,    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
William  NefF.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Austin  Sealy.     Died  at  Philadelphia,  1863. 
John  S.  Wilson.     Served  from  enlistment. 

MEN  JOINED   FOR  DUTY   IN   1864. 

John  Wright.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Hugh  McDowell.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Milburn  Dennis.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Resacca. 
Nation  Gooley.    Died  of  wounds  received  at  New  Hope 

Church. 

Wesley  Gooley.     Discharged  from  Hospital,  1865. 
Henry  Garris.     Discharged  as  paroled  prisoner,  1865. 
Benjamin  W.  Lewis.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Resacca.  Ga. 
Thomas  Lewis.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Charles   J.  Porter.     Killed   in   battle,  at  New  Hope 

Church.   • 


216  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

Rowland  Pettyjohn.     Discharged  from  Hospital,  1865. 
Taylor  Clifton.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Resacca. 
James  Justus.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Wilson  Warner.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Thomas  Watson.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Kene- 

saw  Mountain. 

Frank  Bloomer.     Served  from  enlistment. 
John  P.  Downy.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Lafayette  Flannigan.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Casper  N.  Griffith.     Served  from  enlistment. 
James  F.  Hunter.     Died  near  Atlanta,  1864. 
Jacob  T.  Murlett.     Died,  May,  1864. 
Frank  M.  Madden.     Served  from  enlistment. 
George  W.  Rager.     Deserted. 
Joseph    May.     Mustered    out,   by  War  Department 

Order. 

MEN  TRANSFERRED  FROM  THE  SEVENTY-NINTH  OHIO. 

John  E.  Andrews.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Thomas  Bloom.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
William  L.  Bradley.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
William  R.  Bradley.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Mathias  Branderburg.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Alexander  Compton.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Aaron  Carnahan.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
William  W.  Donelly.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
John  W.  Darbyshire.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
John  W.  Elder.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Alfred  N.  Follin.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Adam  C.  Gorrell.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Francis  Hollingshead.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      217 

Michael  Mitchell.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
John  Willis.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


COMPANY  «D,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  Henry  Robertson.     Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

First  Sergeant  Oliver  P.  Downing.    Served  from  March, 
1864. 

Sergeant  John  T.  Bratton.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Sergeant  James  J.  Handshaw.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Alexander  L.  Carnes.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  George  Hughes.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Thomas  McWhorter.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Jesse  Lee.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

Corporal  Thomas  W.  Barnes.    Discharged  for  disability, 
1862. 

Corporal  Benjamin  E.  Hanson.     Discharged  for  dis- 
ability, 1862. 

Corporal  John  Durham.     Died  of  wounds  received  at 
second  Bull  Run. 

Corporal  Frank  H.  Watkins.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va., 
1862. 

Corporal  William  B.  Lee.     Discharged   at   Hospital, 
1865. 

Corporal   Frank  Watson.     Discharged  for   disability, 
1862. 

Corporal  Joel  F.  Nichols.    Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
18 


218  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Corporal  Conrad  Hull.     Served  from  1862. 

Corporal  John  Swan.     Missing,  on  scouting  duty. 

Corporal  Abner  Taylor.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Resecca. 

Corporal  John  E.  Ebenhack.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Nicholas  Hedrick.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Thomas  Halvey.    Served  from  February,  1864. 

Corporal  William  Belong.     Served  from  Feb.,  1864. 

Corporal  Charles  Halvey.     Served  from  Feb.,  1864. 

Corporal  Thomas  Sherwood.  Transferred  from  Sev- 
enty-ninth Ohio. 

William  Ackerman.  Killed  accidentally,  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Henry  H.  Argubright.  Discharged  on  .account  of 
wounds, 

George  Armstrong.     Discharged,  July  28th,  1862. 

William  Bennett.     Served  full  term. 

John  Butt.     Served  full  term. 

George  Bailey.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

William  Cochenour.     Died  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  1862. 

Isaac  Cochenour.     Served  original  term. 

George  Cassett.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Joseph  Chesser,     Died  at  Falmouth  Va.,  1863. 

John  W.  Cottrell.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

Francis  W.  Crabtree.  Drowned  while  sailing  near  Cape 
Hatteras. 

James  Chesser.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

John  G.  Day.     propped  from  the  rolls. 

Christopher  Delong.     Discharged,  Sept.  5th,  1862. 

John  Gilbreatfi.     Served  full  term. 

John  Gartner.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

William  W.  Hughes.     Discharged,  Nov.  8th,  1862. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  219 

William  F.  Hughey.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
John   W.  Horsey.     Transferred   to  Veteran   Reserve 

Corps. 

Noah  Hollis.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Moses  Honnell.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Amos  Haldron.     Served  full  term. 
Ezra  H.  Hansberry.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Morgan  Jennings.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Francis  Justus.     Served  original  term. 
Frederick  Kunthe.     Kill  in  battle,  at  Resacca. 
Enos  Kirk.     Discharged,  October,  1862. 
James  McKee.     Discharged  for  disability. 
John  McKee.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
Isaac  McKee.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Nathan  McCarty.     Transferred   to  Veteran   Reserve 

Corps. 

Theodore  Mangold.     Served  original  term. 
Robert  T.  McDaniel.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862- 
Henry  J.  Martin.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 
William  Miller.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Albert  Moots.     Died  at  Lookout  Valley,  Tenn. 
Samuel  McDaniel.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Isaac  Martin.     Died  at  Falmouth,  Va.,  1863. 
Allen  C.  Newland.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Albert  Parker.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
George  D.  Robinson.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps. 

Edward  E.  Rice.     Served  full  term. 
Ezariah  Rinehart.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
William  L.  Southers.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps. 


220  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

John  Swift.    Killed  in  battle,  at  Lookout  Valley,  Tenn. 

Washington  Swift.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

George  W.  Stanley.     Discharged  for  disability, 

Thomas  Swift.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

Andrew  Sabold.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Alexander  Smith.     Served  full  term. 

Edward  Thompson.     Served  full  term. 

John  W.  Williams.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Henry  C.  Wilson.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

John  Wine.     Discharged  for  disability. 

MEN   JOINED   FOR  DUTY   IN   1862. 

John  Drake.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Dennis  Drake.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Lookout  Valley. 
William  McGee.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Isaac  Miller.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Lookout  Valley. 
Simon  Mayers.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
James  H.  Russell.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Kene- 

saw  Mountain. 
Thomas  H.  Snyder.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

MEN  JOINED  FOR  DUTY  IN  1864. 

George  Bresler.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Samuel  R.  Bishop.     Died  at  home,  1864. 
Alvero  Childs.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Nicholas  Conley.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Walter  Finney.     Served  from  enlistment. 
John  Delong.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Robert   H.   Grubb.     Killed   in   battle,  at   New  Hope 
Church. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  221 

Philip  Gobbleman.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Thomas  Gooden.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Jacob  Houser.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Charles  Healy.     Deserted. 

John  Hedrick.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Charles  Litterst.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  Nichols.     Died  of  wounds,  July,  1864. 

Henry  S.  Noble.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Joseph  R.  Rittenour.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 

James  R.  Rinehart.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Perry  W.  Stevens.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

William  Lesser.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Samuel  Nelson.     Mustered  out  by  War  Department 

Order. 

Hallem  Sisna.     Mustered  out  at  Hospital. 
James   D.   Toops.     Transferred   to   Veteran   Reserve 

Corps. 
Henry  Taylor.     Mustered  out  at  Hospital,  1865. 

MEN  TRANSFERRED  FROM  SEVENTY-NINTH  OHIO. 

Ezekiel  Cruel.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Benjamin  F.  Dowell.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Stanley  H.  Day.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Richard  Green.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Wilson  Greathouse.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Edward  S.  Hunt.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  t 
Joshua  Simmons.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
David  M.  Stewart.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Thomas  Sawyer.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Timothy  Titus.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


222  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

David  Welch.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Amos  Ward.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
David  Wrightsman.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Joseph  M.  Ward.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


COMP ANY  «E,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  Michael  Harkins.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Henry  W.  Meeker.  Discharged  to  accept 
promotion. 

Sergeant  John  Alexander.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Sergeant  T.  F.  Vanmeter.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Lookout 
Valley. 

Sergeant  George  W.  Gephart.  Transferred  to  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps. 

Sergeant  Job  P.  Duvall.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  John  McCollister.  Discharged  on  account  of 
wounds. 

Sergeant  David  Thompson.     Served  original  term. 

Sergeant  Wesley  H.  Hays.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  John  Henson.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Henry  Furnis.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Frank  N.  Snider.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  Charles  Davidson.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Look- 
out Valley. 

Corporal  John  Heary.     Served  from  1864. 

Corporal  Joseph  Birt.  Discharged  on  account  of 
wounds. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      223 

Corporal  Francis  Hoffman.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Corporal  Matthew  J.  Grimshaw.  Served  from  enlist- 
ment. 

Corporal  Joseph  Hoffman.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Corporal  Isaac  P.  Duvall.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Frank  Fairchild.  Transferred  from  Seventy- 
ninth  Ohio. 

James  Ashmore.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Thomas  W.  Biggerstaff.  Killed  in  battle  of  second 
Bull  Run. 

Oliver  H.  P.  Bennet.     Discharged  for  disability.  . 

Lewis  Barnhart.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

James  T.  Brown.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Thomas  Butterman.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Simeon  P.  Byers.     Died  at  Hospital. 

Andrew  Clendenin.     Discharged  for  disability. 

James  Cullen.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Rcsacca. 

Andrew  Corcoran.     Died  at  Clarksburg  Va. 

Ebenezer  Clark.     Served  original  term. 

John  Dinley.     Died  of  wounds,  December,  1863. 

Samuel  Davis.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Joseph  Dolan.     Discharged,  August,  1862. 

Frank  M.  Ferguson.     Discharged,  Nov.  24th,  1862. 

John  Funk.     Served  full  term. 

John  Fleming.     Died  at  Weston,  Va.,  1862. 

James  Greer.     Died  at  New  Creek,  Va.,  1862. 

Thomas  Godfrey.     Detached  in  Twelfth  Ohio  Battery. 

Thomas  Greer.     Died  at  Nashville,  1864. 

Peter  Galagher.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

Patrick  Heary.     Died  at  Grafton,  Va.,  1862. 


224  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

William  Hege.     Served  full  term. 

Henry  Henson.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 

Edward  Helwagon.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Samuel  F.  Jones.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

William  Jackson.     Died  at  Circleville,  Ohio. 

John  W.  Kelts.     Served  original  term. 

David  W.  Long.     Killed  in  battle  of  Resacca. 

John  May.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

John  C.  McFadden.     Served  full  term. 

William  D.  McBride.     Served  full  term. 

Joshua  Morris.     Served  full  term. 

John  McManus.     Served  full  term. 

Daniel  Martburger.     Discharged,  December,  1862. 

David  O'Donnell.     Served  full  term. 

Peter  Rape.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Philip  A.  Reid.     Died,  July  15th,  1862. 

William  Ross.     Died  at  Lookout  Valley,  Tenn. 

Cyrus  Rush.     Served  full  term. 

William  E.  Rowe.     Served  full  term. 

John  Reynolds.     Died,  October,  1862. 

Patrick  Rogan.     Missing  in  action  at  second  Bull  Run. 

John  Shaffer.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
1864. 

Peter  Shreck.     Served  original  term. 

David  Stonerock.     Served  original  term. 

James  J.  Smith.     Died,  April  13th,  1864. 

William  W.  Townsend.  Detached  in  Twelfth  Ohio 
Battery. 

George  W.  Turflinger.  Discharged  by  order  of  Secre- 
tary of  War. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  225 

George  Turflinger.     Served  full  term. 
Joseph  H.  Turflinger.     Died  at  Wind  Mill  Point,  Md. 
Benjamin  Thorp.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
George  Westerville.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
James  Welch.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 
James  Whalon.     Discharged,  December,  1862. 
Marcus  Walston.     Killed  in  battle  of  second  Bull  Run. 
John  White.     Died  in  rebel  prison  at  Andersonville. 
John  H.  Watkins.     Discharged,  December,  1862. 

MEN   JOINED   FOR   DUTY  IN  1862. 

Benjamin  Brady.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Thomas  McDunn.     Died  at  Stafford  C.  H.,  Va.,  1863. 
William  Gibbons.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
James  M.  Jinks.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
Barnet  McVey.     Died  near  Fairfax  C.  H.,  Va.,  1862. 
Ellis  Powell.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
Abraham  Rice.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Lewis  Selby.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
Lewis  Smith.     Died,  April,  1863. 
Martin  Bugle.     Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 

MEN  JOINED   FOR  DUTY   IN  1864. 

Thomas  McCallister.     Died  at  Lookout  Valley,  Tenn. 
Christopher  Ross.     Served  from  enlistment. 
George  Stonerock.     Died  at  Nashville,  May,  1864. 
Elisha  F.  Steele.     Discharged  for  disability,  1864. 
Joshua  Thomas.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Resacca. 
James  Wells.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Christian  D.  Lint.     Served  from  enlistment. 
19 


226  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Wesley  0.  Donelson.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 
Joseph  S.  Hedrick.     Served  from  enlistment. 
John  J.  Edwards.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Joseph  F.  Fry.     Taken  prisoner.     Supposed  dead. 
Oscar  Cook.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Peter  Woodring.     Served  from  enlistment. 
John  Kyner.     Served  from  enlistment. 
James  Shoff.     Served  from  enlistment. 

MEN  TRANSFERRED  FROM  THE  SEVENTY-NINTH  OHIO. 

John  R.  Bailey.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
James  W.  Bailey.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
William  A.  Collins.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Benijah  Cadwallader.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Thomas  J.  Drake.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
George  Hurtt.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Owen  Higgins.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Frank  Harner.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Michael  Lynch.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
David  M.  Matthews.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Horace  J.  Newport.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Richard  Whittaker.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


COMPANY  "F,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  Andrew  Holden.     Served  full  term. 
Sergeant  Patrick  E.  Meer.    Disch'd  for  disability,  1863. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      227 

Sergeant  William  Barnes.  Discharged  for  disability, 
1862. 

Sergeant  Columbus  B.  Kirkpatrick.  Discharged  for 
disability,  1862. 

Sergeant  Alexander  A.  Campbell.  Served  original 
term. 

Sergeant  Caleb  Dewese.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Sergeant  Ezra  H.  O'Neil.  Discharged  for  disability, 
1864. 

Sergeant  Michael  Norton.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  John  W.  Clark.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Guy  Beebe.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  George  W.  Burge.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Neil  McLaughlin.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Corporal  Patrick  Murphy.  Died  at  Strasburg,  Va., 
1862. 

Corporal  John  McLaughlin.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Corporal  Henry  Kirkpatriok.  Discharged  for  disabil- 
ity, 1862. 

Corporal  Theodore  Beebe.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Samuel  M.  Barkley.  Died  of  wounds  received 
at  Resacca. 

Corporal  Isaac  P.  Clark.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  David  Dillon.  Died  of  wounds  at  Benton- 
ville,  N.  C. 

Corporal  James  Louthan.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  John  C.  Morris.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Samuel  Burke.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  John  Blake.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Francis  M.  Roberts.     Served  full  term. 


228  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Marcellus  Brooker.     Served  full  term. 

Thomas  Brady.     Died  May  26,  1862. 

George  W.  Bageley.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Wallace  W.  Bodkin.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

William  C.  Branderberry.  Discharged  as  paroled  pris- 
oner, 1865. 

Plene  Bordeaux.     Discharged  for  disability,  1864. 

Joseph  Calhoun.     Served  full  term. 

James  Crowne.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Thomas  Cook.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

Jacob  Clark.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Cross  Keys. 

Peter  Clark.     Died  at  Nashville,  1864. 

James  Callahan.     Served  full  term. 

Earl  Crippen      Discharged  January,  1865. 

James  Dorgan.     Discharged  May,  1865,  at  Nashville. 

Thomas  Dorgan.     Died  at  Chillicothe,  0.,  Jan.,  1862. 

Luke  Daisy.     Served  original  term. 

Peter  Danihy.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Patrick  Delaney.       Served  original  term. 

Alexander  Ellis.     Discharged  at  Columbus,  0.,  1862. 

David  Fish.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

Samuel  H.  Fish.     Served  full  term. 

Garrett  Fitsgerald.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

George  Farley.     Served  full  term. 

John  W.  France.  Killed  in  battle,  at  New  Hope 
Church. 

John  Flannigan.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Augustus  Glenn.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Patrick  Highland.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

Patrick  Highland,  No.  2.     Served  original  term. 

Nathan  Heald.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  229 

Caleb  Heald.     Transferred  to  Twelfth  Ohio  Battery. 
William  Heald.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Edmund  Heald.     Served  full  term. 
Lewis  Harris.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Joseph  Harris.     Died  at  Nashville. 
Charles  H.  Hunter.     Died  May  19,  1862. 
Plenry  Harry.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 
Austin  Hines.     Died  at  Franklin,  Va.,  1862. 
Thomas  F.  Hicks.     Discharged  for  disability. 
George  Hatch.     Died  at  Gettysburg,  1863. 
Joseph  W.  Johnson.     Served  full  term. 
William  H.  Johnson.     Served  original  term. 
Mortimer  Kirkpatrick.     Died  of  wounds   received   at 

second  Bull  Run. 

Abel  D.  King.    Discharged  by  civil  authority,  1862. 
Michael  Kennedy.     Transferred    to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps,  1863. 

John  Kennedy.     Discharged  January,  1864. 
George  W.  Lyle.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Anthony  Moran.     Served  full  term. 
William  Marshall.     Served  full  term. 
Michael  Monahan.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Nathan  Morris.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
Elwood  Morris.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 

1863. 
Patrick  Maley.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 

1864. 

John  Newman.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Sylvester  Noland.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds, 
Lorny  Noland.     Discharged  for  disability. 
William  Norris.     Dropped  from  the  rolls,  1862. 


230  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Stephen  O'Leary.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

John  O'Donnell.     Served  original  term. 

Joseph  Roberts.    Discharged  for  disability. 

George  W.  Royer.     Served  full  term. 

William  Shrader.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

George  E.  Steigerwald.   Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

John  A.  Shipe.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Patrick  Sullivan.     Detached  with  Twelfth  Ohio  Battery. 

Isaac  N.  Shipe.    Served  full  term. 

George  G.  Stone.     Died  at  Washington,  July,  1863. 

Samuel  Spear.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  1864. 

John  Starr.     Served  original  term. 

Edward  Tuite.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

David  Taylor.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

Edward  Welch.     Died  at  Tunnel  Station,  0.,  1864. 

Patrick  Welch.     Died  at  Chillicothe,  0.,  1862. 

MEN   JOINED   FOR   DUTY   IN   1862. 

Charles  E.  Dustin.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull 

Run. 

James  Johnson.    Served  from  enlistment. 
Valentine  E.  Johnson.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
David  Meeks.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Joel  Martin.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Benjamin  F.  Bellows.     Mustered  out  at  Hospital,  1865. 
Amster  Moore.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
James  Hamilton.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Cyrus  Parsons.    Killed  in  battle,  at  New  Hope  Church. 
John  W.  Parsons.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
George  F.  Smith.     Discharged  for  disability. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  231 

John  Snyder.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 

1864. 

Alexander  Wayson.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
James  Ward.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

MEN   JOINED   FOR   DUTY  IN   1864. 

Faustus  Beebe.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  Farley.     Died  at  Kingston,  Ga.,  1864. 

Charles  N.  Haines.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  1864. 

George  W.  Holmes.     Discharged,  May  9th,  1865. 

John  Highland.     Mustered  out  at  Hospital,  1865. 

Josiah  E.  Haines.     Served  from  enlistment. 

George  F.  Lukens.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Michael  McGinty.     Died  at  Columbus,  0.,  March,  1864. 

Reuben  Mohny.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Resacca. 

Neil  McGinty.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  McNamarra.  Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Oliver  Miller.     Served  from  enlistment. 

James  L.  Petty.     Served  from  enlistment. 

James  Reid.     Discharged  May,  1865. 

Charles  H.  Terry.     Discharged  for  disability. 

James  Roland.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Joseph  Storts.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Benjamin  F.  Shue.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Smith  Stanton.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Elias  W  alburn.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Charles  W.  Deeble.     Served  from \enlistment. 


232  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 


MEN  TRANSFERRED  FROM  SEVENTY-NINTH  OHIO. 

John  W.  Barnes.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Allen  J.  Blake.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Joshua  Cooper.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
James  B.  Carr.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Pearson  H.  Davis.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
George  W.  Hailey.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
John  J.  Middleton.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Jonathan  McPherson.     Mustered  out  with   the  regi- 
ment. 


COMPANY  «G,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  Edward  M.  Terry.  Died  of  wounds  re- 
ceived at  second  Bull  Run. 

First  Sergeant  Jasper  C.  Briggs.  Killed  in  battle,  at 
Gettysburg. 

First  Sergeant  Hinson  C.  Irion.      Served  original  term. 

First  Sergeant  William  Limes.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  William  A.  Burns.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain. 

Sergeant  William  H.  McCraw.  Dropped  from  the 
rolls. 

Sergeant  Isaac  Willis.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

Sergeant  William  A.  Detty.     Served  original  term. 

Sergeant  William  B.  Greiner.  Died  at  Falmouth,  Va., 
1862. 


SEVENTY-THIED   OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  233 

Sergeant  Henry  Daniels.      Killed   in   battle,  at  New 

Hope  Church. 

Sergeant  John  Barnett.     Served  full  term. 
Sergeant  Harvey  Limes.     Served  full  term. 
Sergeant  Robert  L.  Eyre.     Served  full  term. 
Sergeant  Moses  T.  Howe.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  William  Peck.     Served  original  term. 
Corporal  George  B.  Greiner.     Died  of  wounds  received 

at  Gettysburg. 
Corporal  Andrew  J.  Dowell.     Discharged  on  account 

of  wounds. 
Corporal  Benjamin  Fitzgerald.    Discharged  on  account 

of  wounds. 

Corporal  Winfield  Knighton.    Discharged  for  disability. 
Corporal  Elmore  W.  Welshamer.     Discharged  on  ac- 
count of  wounds. 
Corporal.  Elisha  Forsyth.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Kene- 

saw  Mountain. 

Corporal  Jasper  Carpenter.     Served  from  1864. 
Corporal  Rinehart  Lemley.     Discharged   at  Hospital, 

1865. 
Corporal  James  Zimmerman.     Served  from  February, 

1864. 

Corporal  Jacob  Linder.     Mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. 

Corporal  Simon  Ratcliff.     Served  from  August,  1862. 
Corporal  William  Hudnell.     Served  full  term. 
Corporal  Isaac  Delong.     Served  from  February,  1864. 
Corporal.  John  Dozer.     Served  original  term. 
George  Borden.     Served  full  term. 
Andrew  J.  Borden.     Served  full  term. 


234  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Mason  Brown.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 

Willis  Brewer.     Discharged,  October,  1862. 

Joseph  Baker.     Discharged,  March,  1863. 

William  Campbell.     Served  full  term. 

James  H.  Downing.     Discharged,  December,  1862. 

Enoch  M.  Detty.     Died  of  wounds,  at  Gettysgurg. 

David  Dozer.     Discharged  at  Philadelphia,  1863. 

Jacob  Dixon.     Served  original  term. 

Abner  De  France.     Discharged,  April,  1863. 

John  M.  Elliott.     Served  full  term. 

Vinton  Irwin.     Served  original  term. 

Cyrus  Ellis.     Discharged  for  disability. 

James  D.  Freeman.     Served  original  term. 

Frederick  Fouty.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Christopher  H.  Green.     No  record. 

James  Graves.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Eli  Graves.     Discharged,  June  16th,  1863. 

James  Irwin.     Discharged  October,  1862. 

Joshua  Hartman.     Detached  in  Twelfth  Ohio  Battery. 

Joseph  Horseman.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

Franklin  B.  Knighton.  Died  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  Septem- 
ber, 1864. 

James  S.  Knighton.     Discharged,  October,  1864. 

Eugine  P.  Kiger.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps,  1864. 

Benjamin  W.  Kiger.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Elisha  Leake.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

Joshua  Linton.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

Reason  B.  Maple.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Henry  M.  Marks.     No  record. 

William  Miller.     Died  while  on  veteran  furlough. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      235 

£ 

Alfred  McKee.     Discharged  January,  1863. 

James  Marshall.     Detached  in  First  Ohio  Battery. 

John  H.  Mackinson.     Discharged,  September,  1862. 

Matthew  W.  Maddux.     No-  record. 

Thomas  Nichols.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

William  H.  Orr.     Discharged,  October,  1862. 

Henry  M.  Ogborn.     Served  original  term. 

Lewis  Painter.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Strawther  Priddy.     Discharged,  May,  1862. 

James  Ray.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

Samuel  Ray.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Thomas  J.  Robinson.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 

William  Ratcliff.     Died,  June,  1863. 

Alexander  Speakman.  Died  at  Fairfax  Sem.  Hospital, 
1862. 

Isaiah  Smith.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
1863. 

John  W.  Swain.  Discharged  by  War  Department 
Order,  1865. 

Wilson  Smallwood.     Died,  Feb.  15th,  1863,  at  home. 

James  Shepherd.     Served  original  term. 

Solomon  Shiflett.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

~V\  illiam  Sigler.     Served  original  term. 

Isaac  J  Sperry.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

William  J.  Shepherd.     Served  original  term. 

Jacob  Swackhammer.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Get- 
tysburg. 

Robert  C.  Siens.     Served  original  term. 

William  Sickles.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Wm.  W.  Stephens.    Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps. 

Jacob  Sigler.     Died  in  Field  Hospital,  near  Atlanta. 


236  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

James  E.  Todhunter.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
David  Thacker.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Henry  H.  Thacker.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Alexander  Vanderford.     Discharged,  February,  1864. 
John  Weakline.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 

1862. 

George  M.  Waller.     Served  original  term. 
James  P.  Welman.     Died  of  wounds,  November,  1862. 

MEN   JOINED   FOR  DUTY  IN   1862. 

Adam  Bates.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Anthony  W.  Boss.     Served  three  years. 

Charles  E.  Aber.     Deserted  to  the  enemy. 

William  E.  Borden.  Discharged  by  War  Department 
Order,  1865. 

William  Haines.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Ai  Maddux.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

Joseph  Barnett.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Valentine  Barnett.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

Richard  Lewis.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

MEN  JOINED   FOR  DUTY  IN   1864. 

Garrett  M.  McLain.     Died,  Nov.  19th,  1864. 
David  M.  Matthews.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  1864. 
Isaac  Gray.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  March,  1864. 
John  A.  Donley.     Served  from  enlistment. 
James  Wilson.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Resacca. 
Philip  Campbell.     Served  from  enlistment. 
George  Hudmell.     Served  from  enlistment. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  237 

Edwin  R.  Pearson.     Mustered  out,  by  War  Department 

Order. 

Jacob  Munnell.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Andrew  Martin.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Benton- 

ville,  N.  C. 

Erastus  S.  Smith.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
William  J.  Jackson.     Deserted,  August,  1864. 

MEN   TRANSFERRED   FROM   SEVENTY-NINTH   OHIO. 

John  IT.  Adams.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
John  F.  Adams.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Marvin  E.  Greathouse.     Mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. 

Alfred  H.  Graham.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Ferdinand  Harsh.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Martin  S.  Hinkle.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Benjamin  Huskey.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment.' 
William  H.  Parshall.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
John  H.  Roof.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Wijliam  J.  Sears.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Robert  H.  Wilson.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Thomas  J.  Babbitt.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Jacob  H.  Winner.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


238  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OP  THE 

COMPANY  «H,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  George  L.  White.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability, 1864. 

First  Sergeant  Hiram  Haning.     Served  three  years. 

First  Sergeant  James  Sanderson.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Henry  L.  Robinson.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability, 1862. 

Sergeant  Josephus  Cunningham.  Discharged  to  accept 
promotion. 

Sergeant  Hiram  Clay.     Served  three  years. 

Sergeant  William  Clark.     Served  original  term. 

Sergeant  James  M.  McGee.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  George  W.  Allen.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  James  H.  Lee.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

Corporal  Hugh  Reeves.  Discharged  for  disability, 
1862. 

Corporal  Charles  Cunningham.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability, 1862. 

Corporal  Madison  Page.  Discharged  on  account  of 
wounds. 

Corporal  Samuel  Sanderson.     Died  at  Lookout  Valley. 

Corporal  Thomas  C.  Wallace.  Discharged  on  account 
of  wounds. 

Corporal  William  Tewksbury.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Get- 
tysburg. 

Corporal  Henry  A.  Dixon.  Discharged  for  disability, 
December,  1864. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.      239 

Corporal  Richard  Terry.     Discharged  on  account  of 

wounds,  1865. 

Corporal  Edward  Branham.     Served  from  Feb.,  1864. 
Corporal  Charles  W.  Bolby.     Served  from  Feb.,  1864. 
Corporal  John  W.  Wilson.     Died  of  wounds  received 

at  New  Hope  Church. 

Corporal  John  J.  Snider.     Served  from  Aug.,  1862. 
Corporal  Francis  W.  Sweesey.    Served  from  Nov.,  1862. 
Corporal  Littleton  C.  Dakin.     Mustered  out  with  the 

regiment. 

George  W.  Arrick.     Discharged  for  disability. 
John  S.  Lee.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Lewis  Baker.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Ephraim  Baker.     Discharged  for  disability. 
John  Brown.     Transferred  to  Veteran   Reserve  Corps. 
Daniel  Buckley.     Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps. 
Enoch  Bolen.     Detached  in  Twelfth  Ohio  Battery. 
John  Bolen.     Served  original  term. 
Joseph  Bolen.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
John  E.  Bolen.     Discharged  for  disability. 
James  F.  Bowers.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 
George  W.  Buckston.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Jesse  K.  Bennett.     Died  of  wounds,  September,  1862. 
Thomas  R.  Cook.     Detached  in  Twelfth  Ohio  Battery. 
John  Carny.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Benj.  F.  Caruthers.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
James  E.  Calvin.     Died  near  Stafford  C.  H.  Va.,  1863. 
Henry  Cramer.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  1862. 
John  Clark.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
John  W.  Coffee.     Discharged,  1865. 
Marion  Cline.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 


240  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Joseph  Cline.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

William  P.  Cottrill.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va,,  1862.   1 

William  K.  Dunlap.     Served  full  term. 

Gibson  Dougherty.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

William  D.  Dixon.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Wellington  Doddridge.    Mustered  out,  Dec.  29th,  1864. 

John  Elder.     Served  full  term. 

John  Estell.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Martin  W.  Elliott.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Garrett  Ford.     Discharged  for  disability. 

William  F.  Fetherling.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Va. 

Jacob  Fetherling.     Served  full  term. 

George  Goodycounts.     No  record. 

David  Gough.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

John  Higgins.     Served  full  term. 

William  Jack.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

James  C.  Kelso.     Served  full  term. 

William  Kelly.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Joshua  King.     No  record. 

Henry  Lyester.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

James  McKinney.     Served  original  term. 

Cornelius  McCarty.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

Thomas  J.  Martin.     Discharged  for  disability. 

James  W.  Martin.     Served  original  term. 

Jesse  McHenry.     Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps. 

William  Morris.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Wm.  D.  McVey.     Died  of  wounds  rec'd  at  Gettysburg. 

Joseph  Merkle.     Served  original  term. 

Amen  Robinett.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Davis  L.  Rickey.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  1862. 

William  Robinson.    Killed  in  battle  at  second  Bull  Run. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  241 

Joseph  Smith.     Died  at  Georgetown,  D.  0.,  Dec.,  1862. 
John  S.  Soule.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Henry  Snider.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Abraham  M.  Simmons.     Deserted. 
Milton  D.  Smith.     Discharged  for  disability. 
William  Shrock.     Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps. 
James  W.  Sperry.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
James  Scroggs.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Andrew  A.  Smith.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Isaac  Stanley.     Served  orginal  term. 
Jackson   Stanley.     Detached  with  Twelfth  Ohio  Bat- 
tery. 

Archless  A.  Stanley.     Discharged  for  disability,  1864. 
Adam  Slaughter.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
David  Templeton.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Columbus  B.  Thompson.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
David  Tewksbury.     Died  of  wounds,  May,  1864. 
Frank  Thomen.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Nicholas  Warner.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 
Jeremiah  C.  Woodyard.     Served  original  term. 
Paul  Wood.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Alfred  Woodruff.     Served  original  term. 
John  Welch.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
John  Woods.     Discharged,  January,  1863. 
Anton  Zimmerman.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

MEN  JOINED  FOR  DUTY  IN  1862. 

James  Buchanan.     Discharged  for  disability,  1864. 
Owen  Grimes.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
Jacob  Knece.     Served  from  enlistment. 
20 


242  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Josiah  M.  Lyons.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
John  H.  Shaw.     Served  from  enlistment. 
David  Spung.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Asad  B.  Vauter.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
David  Whitby.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
William  Whitby.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 
John  S.  Black.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 
Lemuel  McVey.     Mustered  out  at  Hospital,  1865. 
Abraham  McVey.     Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 
Solomon  Daily.     Served  full  term. 
Park  Reed.     Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 
William  Woodruff/*  Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
William  A.  Cooper.     Killed  in  battle,  at  New  Hope 

Church. 
Daniel  B.  Ankrom.     Died,  January  31st,  1865. 

MEN  JOINED  FOR  DUTY  IN  1864. 

Stephen  B.  Davis.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Andrew  Dunlap.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Peter  Friece.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  Hemmings.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Jacob  Huffman.     No  record. 

Jeremiah  Ingram.     Discharged  for  disability,  1864. 

James  Lloyd.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Andrew  McCabe.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Jacob  Myers.     Mustered  out  July,  1865. 

Henry  Miller.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Francis  M.  Raburn.     Discharged  from  Hospital,  1865. 

William  Shockley.     Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 

John  W.  Tull.    Killed  in  battle,  at  Kenesaw  Mountain. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  243 

Lewis  M.  Wilkins.    Served  from  enlistment. 

Samuel  C.  Sharp.    Discharged  for  disability. 

John  T.  Sharp.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Jonathan  Huffman.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  1864. 

Harvey  Morgan.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Elriah  Payton.     Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 

Joseph  Spetnagle.     No  record. 

Joseph  Tillon.     Killed  in  battle,  at  New  Hope  Church. 

Pitts  Meddow.    No  record. 

MEN  TRANSFERRED   FROM   THE  SEVENTY-NINTH  OHIO. 

John  W.  Mower.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
James  Q.  Rochhold.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Silas  Spencer.     Mustered  out  with  regiment. 
John  Weigand.     Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 


COMPANY  "I,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  John  B.  Eckman.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability, 1862. 

First  Sergeant  Albert  R.  Hull.  Killed  in  battle,  at 
second  Bull  Run. 

First  Sergeant  Warren  Hull.  Discharged  for  disabil- 
ity, 1865. 

First  Sergeant  Josiah  Bryan.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Joseph  S.  McKee.  Discharged  for  disability, 
1862. 


244  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

Sergeant  Arthur  T.  McLean.  Discharged  for  disabil- 
ity, 1862. 

Sergeant  Benjamin  Love.     Died,  March  16,  1862. 

Sergeant  Mordecai  Hunnicutt.  Discharged  by  order 
of  Secretary  of  War. 

Sergeant  Robert  H.  Scott.  Discharged  on  account  of 
wounds. 

Sergeant  Nelson  Terry.  Died  of  wounds  received  at 
New  Hope  Church. 

Sergeant  James  Withgott.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Charles  W.  McKee.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  James  H.  Blain.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  William  Quinn.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  James  R.  Blackburn.     Died,  March  13, 1862. 

Corporal  John  L.  Gray.     Served  original  term. 

Corporal  Robert  R.  Wallace.    Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  Theodore  Jackman.  Died  of  wounds  received 
at  second  Bull  Run. 

Corporal  Edward  D.  Osborn.     Discharged,  Oct.,  1862. 

Corporal  Thornton  F.  Ruley.   Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  John  A.  Perry.     Served  original  term. 

Corporal  Ephraim  Johnson.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  John  W.  Bell.  Died  of  wounds  received  in 
battle,  at  Bentonville,  N.  C. 

Corporal  Jacob  Eckle.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Gaylord  Hartman.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Simeon  Mick.     Served  full  term. 

John  W.  Adams.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Washington  Araon.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Jacob  Beam.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Bentonville,  N.  C. 

Joseph  R.  Blake.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  245 

William  T.  Buckner.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Jackson  Bly.     Discharged  for  disability. 

John  Barnes.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

William  W.  Baker.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Henry  Baker.     No  record. 

David  W.  Bonner.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  second 

Bull  Run. 

John  Board.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Isaac  Clifton.     Died  at  Strasburg,  Va.,  1862. 
Joseph  C.  Clark.     Served  full  term. 
William  W.  Dostor.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Spencer  Davis.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Clement  J.  Davis.     Served  full  term. 
William  P.  Dodd.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
John  Dixon.     Discharged,  November,  1862. 
Sterling  East.     Died,  September,  1862. 
John  Edmonds.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Thomas  J.  Edmonds.     Served  full  term. 
Daniel  T.  Evans.    Discharged  for  disability. 
George  Flint.    Killed  in  battle,  at  Bentonville,  N.  C. 
James  W.  Ford.    Discharged  for  disability. 
William  Harper.     Deserted. 

John  Halterman.   Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
Norman  Hyer.    Died  at  Strasburg,  1862. 
John  B.  Haines.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  New 

Hope  Church. 

Simeon  Johnson.    Served  full  term.   n 
George  Keezer.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Kenesaw  Mount. 
Isaac  N.  Lucas.    Died,  September,  1862. 
Benjamin  Lucas.    Died,  July,  1863. 
Charles  Lee.    Killed  in  battle,  at  New  Hope  Church. 


246  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

James  Lytle.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Andrew  Miller.    Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

Samuel  E.  Mackey.     Transferred  to  Seventh  Ohio  Cav. 

Joseph  C.  McLaen.    Transferred  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

Henry  Mader.    Served  full  term. 

"William  Overholt.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 

Marshall  Phillips.    Served  full  term. 

William  Parker.    Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

John  H.  Rutherford.    Discharged  for  disability. 

Amos  Ross.    Served  full  term. 

Christopher  Shultz.     Taken   prisoner,   1862.     Never 

heard  from. 

Robert  W.  Scott.    Discharged  for  disability. 
Oliver  T.  Scott.    Mustered  out  at  Hospital,  1865. 
William  Stoops.    Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Sylvester  Sampson.    Served  full  term. 
Lawrence  Scully.    Discharged  for  disability. 
Jacob  Van  Gundy.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Joseph  F.  Vanpelt.     Served  full  term. 
Simon  Vanpelt.     Served  full  term. 
William  Williams.    Killed  in  battle,  at  Gettysburg. 
George  A.  Wilson.   Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 
Nelson  Withgott.     Died  of  wounds  at  Lookout  Valley. 

MEN  JOINED   FOR  DUTY  IN  1862. 

John  Borer.     Discharged  for  disability. 

John  Harper.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

John  M.  Lockwood.     Died  from  wounds  received  at 

Dallas,  Ga. 

Thomas  J.  McClellan.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Thomas  J!  Strupper.     Served  from  enlistment. 


SEVENTY- THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  247 


MEN  JOINED  FOR  DUTY  IN  1864. 

Stewart  B.  Depoy.     Mustered  out,  July,  1865. 
George  W.  Baughman.     Died  of  wounds  received  at 

Bentonville. 

Samuel  J.  Delong.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Thomas  J.  Follis.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Martin  Flowers.     Served  from  enlistment. 
Owen  Hines.     Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
John  W.  Harvey.     Died,  June,  1864. 
John  H.  Kroetzer.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
William  Nutt.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Duncan  Ross.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
William  Rinehart.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Dallas. 
Jacob  Shoemaker.     No  record. 
Julius  Sheeler.     Died,  June  21st,  1864. 
Alexander  S.  Stiers.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Robert  E.  Toole.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

MEN  TRANSFERRED  FROM  THE  SEVENTY-NINTH  OHIO. 

Thomas  A.  Cook.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
John  Beck.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Henry  C.  Campbell.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Oliver  S.  Garrison.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Thomas  Harrison.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Thomas  Lamb.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
George  Me.  Taylor.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Franklin  McGrath.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
William  Swirkin.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


248  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

John  W.  Fadden.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Isaac  Wiley.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Reuben  Wood.     Mustered  out  with  the  regimeut. 
John  W.  Wilson.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


COMPANY  «K,"  SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

First  Sergeant  Theodore  E.  Lockwood.  Served  full 
term. 

Sergeant  Richard  J.  Watts.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Sergeant  John  D.  Miles.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Sergeant  William  H.  Myers,  sen.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  William  H.  Myers,  jun.  Served  from  Feb- 
ruary, 1864. 

Sergeant  James  J.  Lawhead.     Deserted,  1863. 

Sergeant  Alexander  Creighton.     Served  full  term. 

Sergeant  Philip  Miller.  Discharged  as  parolled  pris- 
oner, 1865. 

Corporal  David  Armstrong.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  Dennis  Timmoney.     Discharged,  Jan.,  1863. 

Corporal  Jacob  Hawk.     Died,  Sept.,  1862. 

Corporal  Benjamin  Cooley.  Died  of  wounds  received 
at  second  Bull  Run. 

Corporal  Theodore  T.  Watts.    Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  Abraham  Van  Buskirk.  Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Corporal  Austin  T.  Bobo.  Killed  in  Battle  at  Lookout 
Valley. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  249 

Corporal  Stephen  T.  Hull.  Transferred  to  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps. 

Corporal  Gaines  Wiltshire.  Killed  in  battle,  at  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain. 

Corporal  Charles  H.  Chalker.  Transferred  to  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps. 

Corporal  Lemuel  H.  Ferris.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Corporal  John  W.  Hutchinson.  Discharged  on  ac- 
count of  wounds. 

Corporal  Lybrand  Chestnut.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Jerome  Lysinger.  Discharged  for  disability, 
1865. 

Corporal  Robert  McMasters.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  Simeon  Witham.     Served  full  term. 

Corporal  John  Wilson.     Mustered  out  with  regiment. 

Corporal  Francis  Ward.     Mustered  out  with  regiment. 

Corporal  Simon  L.  Yost.     Served  full  term. 

Jonas  E.  Andrews.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Atlanta. 

Richard  Bobo.     Served  original  term. 

John  Bloom.     Served  full  term. 

Edward  Barlow.     Died  at  Franklin,  Va.,  1862. 

William  T.  Butts.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

William  Burley.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Lookout 
Valley. 

Richard  Bond.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Prince  B.  Bobo.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Jewett  Barnes.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Samuel  Calhoun.     Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 

John  W.  Curtis.     Served  full  term. 

Daniel  Chestnut.     Transferred  to  Twenty-sixth  Ohio. 

Joseph  Carpenter.  Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps. 
21 


250  JOURNAL-HISTORY   OP   THE 

June  Carsey.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Cross  Keys. 
Elephas  Carpenter.     Died,  September,  1862. 
John  Colbert.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
William  Collins.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Rensalaer  Carpenter.     Served  full  term. 
Reuben  R.  Cooley.     Discharged  for  diability. 
Hiram  Daily.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
John  W.  Dye.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
Benjamin  Ellis.     Died,  July,  1863. 
Herman  Frost.     Served  original  term. 
Joseph  Fulton.     Discharged  for  disability. 
Lewis  Horton.     Discharged  for  disability. 
William  Hutchinson.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Moses  E.  Hamilton.     Died  at  Wilmington,  N.  C. 
Charles  Kimball.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds 

1865. 

James  Konkoskia.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 
Jacob  Konkoskia.     Discharged  for  disability. 
William  King.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Atlanta. 
Peter  Laur.     Served  full  term. 
Alexander  McDowell.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 
Thomas  McKinley.     Discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
William  McKinley.     Killed  in  battle,  at  secoud  Bull 

Run. 

Clarence  Miles.     Died,  December  1,  1863. 
David  S.  McCoy.     Died  in  rebel  prison. 
Harrison  Morrison.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Port  Republic. 
Enoch  Mansfield.     Died  at  Clarksburg,  Ya.,  1862. 
John  McDonald.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Lookout  Valley. 
Washington  Moore.   Discharged  on  acconnt  of  wounds. 
Rice  Morrison.     Served  original  term. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  151 

Anthony  Palmer.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

John  Paulus.  Discharged  for  disability,  1865. 

Lorain  Parsons.     Served  full  term. 

Sardine  X.  Paulk.     Mustered  out,  July,  1865. 

Charles  E.  Price.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Lookout  Valley. 

Thomas  Reid.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Lookout 
Valley. 

Joseph  Runnels.     Killed  in  battle,  at  Resacca,  Ga. 

Joseph  Reid.     Served  full  term. 

Uriah  Six.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Michael  Thorn.     Detached  with  the  Twelfth  Ohio  Bat- 

i 

tery. 

Henry  Wiltshire.     Served  full  term. 

Henry  Wetherby.     Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

Fordice  Wilford.    Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 

Andrew  J.  Williams.     Died,  Feb.  26th,  1862. 

John  R.  Wetherby.     Discharged  from  Hospital,  1865. 

John  E.  Woodyard.  Detached  with  Twelfth  Ohio  Bat- 
tery. 

James  Watts.     Killed  in  battle,  at  second  Bull  Run. 

MEN  JOINED  FOR  DUTY  IN   1862. 

Benjamin  Ellis.    Died,  July,  1863. 

Charles  A.  Kilvert.     Discharged  by  order  Sec.  of  War. 

Joseph  Bishop.    Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Alden  Buck.     Died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettysburg. 

Rensalaer  Graham.     Discharged  for  disability. 

Benjamin  Hart.     Died,  March  14th,  1862. 

Isaac  M.  Wetherby.     Died,  October,  1864. 


252  JOURNAL-HISTORY  OF  THE 

David  Wilford.  Died  of  wounds  received  at  second 
Hull  Run. 

Wellington  Wetherby.    Discharged  for  disability,  1862. 

Samuel  W.  Hull.     Discharged  for  disability. 

John  W.  Hunkerford.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Re- 
serve Corps. 

Francis  Munns.     Died  of  accidental  wounds,  1863. 

Alpheus  McGrath.     Discharged  for  disability,  1863. 

William  Munns.     Discharged  for  disability. 

William  W.  Persons.     Died  at  Falmouth,  Va.,  1863. 

John  H.  Sinclair.     Discharged  at  Hospital,  1865. 

James  Walker.     Died,  March  18th,  1864. 

Syrel  Lake.     i)ied  at  Nashville,  January,  1864 . 

John  M.  Martin.     Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps. 

Isaac  Williams.     Died,  July  12th,  1862. 

Robert  S.  Burnham.     Died,  Nov.  18th,  1864. 

MEN   JOINED   FOR  DUTY  IN  1864. 

John  M.  Harris.     Served  from  enlistment. 

John  O'Conner.     Dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Nathan  L.  Paulk.     Died  at  Lookout  Valley. 

Curtis  A.  Rodgers.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Willis  Shattuck.     Served  from  enlistment. 

Allen  J.  Sutton.  Served  from  enlistment. 

John  T.  Young.     Discharged  from  Hospital,  1865. 

John  A.  Baston.     Discharged,  1865. 

Joseph  Johnson.     Transferred  to  Vet.  Reserve  Corps. 

William  Moore.     Served  from  enlistment. 

David  H.  Smith.     Served  from  enlistment. 

William  A.  Smith.     Discharged,  July,  1864. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  OHIO  VOL.  INFANTRY.  253 

Emanuel  Shaffer.     Served  from  enlistment. 
William  H*  Weaver.     Dropped  from  the  rolls 

MEN  TRANSFERRED  FROM  THE  SEVENTY- NINTH  OHIO. 

Henry  Jones.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
James  Pickett.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Elias  Reader.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Martin  Reader.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Henry  Seal.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Robert  Siens.    Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Henry  Snider.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
George  West.     Mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 


SUMMARY. 


Field  Officers 5 

Staff  Officers 14 

Line  Officers 61 

Non-commissioned  Staff  9 

First  Sergeants 23 

Sergeants 82 

Corporals  < 151 

Privates , 1,045 

Commissioned  Officers 80 

Enlisted  Men    1,310 


Members  of  the  Regiment   1,390 


CASUALTIES. 

Killed  in  Battle 95 

Died  of  Wounds.. 61 

Died  of  Disease,  etc 129 


Dead  of  the  Regiment 285 

Wounded— not  fatally 568 


